Germana Carillo The donkey was 30 years old and died from a painful hoof disease. DreamWorks had been inspired by him for the character of Shrek's friend
He’s always talking, full of ideas, and a real friend. Of course, there’s Donkey, the fast-talking, fast-acting sidekick who joins the green ogre Shrek on many an adventure. The character proved so unforgettable that Empire magazine placed him 21st on its list of the 50 greatest animated characters of all time.
What few people know, though, is that Donkey’s character was inspired by a real-life donkey; Eddie Murphy‘s voice in the original version. Farewell to Perry, Real-Life Donkey Behind the Icon The inspiration behind the said Donkey was a loveable, real-life donkey called Pericles but affectionately called Perry. It is very unfortunate that Perry has passed on at the age of 30 because of laminitis, which is a painful condition of the hooves.
“He was a cherished member of our community, and we know that his passing will impact so many deeply,” the Barron Park Donkeys organization in Palo Alto, California wrote, announcing Perry’s death. Born in 1994, Perry had been in the park since he was three years old.
A celebration was held in his honor in May 2024, but his condition had recently deteriorated, especially in his left hind leg, and efforts to alleviate his pain proved unsuccessful.
The first Shrek movie was released in 2001 and won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Meanwhile, Perry lived a life of quiet fame, cherished by all who knew him.
A fun fact about Donkey
Donkey briefly showed up with Shrek in a flashback from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, where Puss sees his life flash before his eyes after being almost killed by Death. In the scene, Donkey is shown to be walking on a log with Shrek and Puss in a funny nod to Lion King’s Hakuna Matata sequence.
At the end of the film, Puss returns to Far Far Away with Kitty Softpaws and Perrito to reunite with old friends, hinting at a future meeting with Donkey and the rest of the gang.
