One of Canada’s most beloved TV stars has passed away.
For six of the last seven seasons and 100 episodes, Diesel vom Burginwald played Rex, the astonishing German Shepherd who patrolled the streets of St. John’s, Nfld., with his police partner Det. Charlie Hudson (John Reardon) on Citytv’s Hudson & Rex.
This past week, Sherri Davis, Diesel’s trainer, pet parent and best friend, confirmed the sad news of her cherished canine’s recent departure. Diesel, who succumed to cancer, was eight years old.
Sherri, also an executive producer on the Shaftesbury series, trained two of Diesel’s nephews — Dillon and Dante — to leap into the lead role of the series throughout season seven.
“These dogs are my family. They are my kids. Losing any of them is heartbreaking,” Davis told People magazine.
I saw that close bond on several occasions, a couple of times out East on location with the series. One episode was shot on the island of Saint-Pierre, with Diesel sportinga special doggie vest for the 30-minute prop plane ride from Newfoundland.
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Once there Diesel and a second “stunt” dog, Iko, Diesel’s cousin, put in a full day. One scene called for Iko to leap on-and-off a couple of picnic tables.
Another dog, Izzy, sometimes got called in for the “romantic work,” according to co-star Reardon. “Diesel’s more of an impromptu licker,” Reardon explained to me in 2022. “He doesn’t like to lick on cue.”
On that day in St. John’s, Diesel sat in the back seat of a car, watching, while Iko leapt from table to table. This did not work for Diesel, who was barking his head off at Iko as well as the cast and crew.
Clearly, Diesel liked to work, and he knew, dammit, that he was the star.
Other long running TV shows have had to replace canine stars. There were several Lassies and Littlest Hobos. Even Eddie the dog on Frasier — a Jack Rusell Terrier — had to eventually be replaced. For the first eight seasons Moose played Eddie but Moose’s look-a-like son, Enzo, was also used in some scenes. When Moose began to slow down, Enzo stepped in and played Eddie on seasons nine, 10 and 11.
When that final episode was produced before a live audience, the trainer brought Moose — old and grey and mostly deaf — back for a final bow. Moose died at 15 in 2006.
Finding the right dog who can perform on a TV show is all about hard work and breeding, says Davis, who for years has opperated her own animal training facility west of Toronto. She spotted Diesel while visiting a German Shepherd breeder. Overlooked there as a pet, Davis immediately saw he had the temperment to put up with the long days and multiple takes required on a TV set. In just two months, she was able to prepare him for the rigors of a weekly series.
Besides being a handsome, regal-looking specimen, Diesel had a remarkable vocabulary handed down from Davis and passed along to others in the cast. The East Coast series was one of the first in Canada to return before the cameras after the COVID-19 outbreak. Diesel was able to rely on hand gestures and other physical commands as his co-stars masked up. Davis later explained to me how all that mask wearing affected a dog who relies more than you might think on facial expressions when trying to fetch his next cue.
Mayko Nguyen, Justin Kelly and Kevin Hanchard were among Diesel’s other Hudson & Rex companions.
I had the great fortune to play along with Diesel in a few videos, including this one where I ask him three questions. His answers were always honest and direct.
My favourite video, however, happens to be this one here which was send to me from Davis:
Condolences to Sherri, all his costars on Hudson & Rex, all at Shaftesbury and Citytv as well as his fans around the world.
