Hercules (bear)

Hercules (1975 – February 4, 2000) was a trained grizzly bear from Scotland who appeared in a number of cameo roles for various television productions, reaching the height of his popularity in the 1980s. He was owned by wrestler Andy Robin and his wife, who originally bought him from a wildlife park in Aviemore as a baby cub.

Early popularity

Hercules first appeared with Andy in his act on the UK wrestling circuit in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Playing the role of a gentle giant, the bear regularly drew audiences of 15 million viewers on ITV's "World of Sport" programme.

It was this which gave Hercules early success, leading to a number of small acting roles on television.

International stardom

While filming for a Andrex television commercial on August 20, 1980, on Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, Hercules managed to escape, and went missing for 24 days. In a rescue attempt joined by hundreds of volunteers, search parties looked for Hercules for three days before calling off the search. On September 13, a crofter spotted the animal swimming; he was shot with a tranquilliser dart, netted and flown by helicopter back to Andy.

The story made Hercules an almost instant celebrity around the world, as the world's media gathered round the cage as the bear was slowly brought back to consciousness. He would go on to secure higher profile roles in films such as the James Bond movie "Octopussy" (1983), in which he shared the screen with Roger Moore, and a documentary for the animated Disney film "Hercules" (1997), as well as starring in a number of other small film roles, children's documentaries and chat shows.

Later life

Whilst filming a television advert,cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/scotland/476850.stm|title=Bear with a sore back|date=1999-10-18|work=BBC News Online|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-06-05] the bear fell over and slipped a disc in his back, marking an abrupt end to his career.

Hercules eventually died of old age on February 4, 2000.

Trivia

* Hercules was featured on the cover of Time and helped to promote the Miss World contest.
* Hercules caddied for comedian Bob Hope at the Scottish golf course of Gleneagles.
* Hercules was once named 'Personality of the Year' by the Scottish Tourist Board and received a telegram from Ronald Reagan.

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/13/newsid_2516000/2516041.stm BBC's On This Day - Missing Scottish bear is found]
* [http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/5656/newsDate/9-Feb-2000/story.htm Planet Ark - Hercules, the grizzly bear who once wrestled with James Bond, has died at the age of 25.]
* [http://www.sunnygovan.com/GF/F-L/Hercules.html A tribute from Maggie Robin, wife of Andy Robin]