Animals on screen: From Lassie to “Animal Practice”

Crystal, the monkey who became famous for her role in “The Hangover” has a new show, “Animal Practice,” debuting on NBC. She follows a long legacy of famous furry actors.

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There was no place like home for Terry, a Cairn terrier who portrayed Toto in "The Wizard of Oz." Terry has a permanent marker at the Hollywood Forever cemetary, where many other famous actors are buried.

/ NBC

Pal, a Collie, became one of the most famous animal actors of all time, starring in the 1943 MGM film "Lassie Come Home." All dogs that have portrayed Lassie since are direct descendants of Pal, who was originally only cast as the stunt dog, not the star.

/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

The dapper J. Fred Muggs was the mascot for the "Today Show" from 1953 to 1957. He saved the then-struggling show by attracting advertisers.

/ AP

Rin Tin Tin, a dog rescued from a World War II battlefield, went on to star in 23 movies. The dog was a major celebrity and is shown here receiving room service in a Chicago hotel.

Edward Kitch / AP

Spike, a Mastador — a Labrador retriever-Mastiff mix — became famous for his title role in "Old Yeller." That led to other roles, such as "A Dog in Flanders," co-starring Donald Crisp, right, and David Ladd, 11-year-old son of Hollywood star Alan Ladd.

/ AP

Mr. Ed, portrayed by a Palomino horse named Bamboo Harvester, is shown here visiting a beach beatnik art colony with his TV friend, Alan Young, in 1962. To make it look as if he were talking, Bamboo Harvester's trainers got his mouth to move by placing a piece of thread under his lip.

/ AP

Comedian Chevy Chase gets his ear licked from co-star Benji as the two held a 1979 news conference in Los Angeles announcing their movie "Oh Heavenly Dog." Benji, whose real name was Higgins, was a mixed breed dog found in a Burbank animal shelter.

Nick Ut / AP

Bull terrier Spuds MacKenzie, center, became the Bud Light mascot in a 1987 Super Bowl ad. The dog's registered name with the American Kennel Club was actually Honey Tree Evil Eye, called "Evie" for short.

/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

Keiko, the killer whale who was the star of the film "Free Willy," was returned to the wild after a life in captivity. Efforts to re-integrate him with a pod of wild orcas weren’t entirely successful, and he died of pneumonia in Norway in 2003 at the age of 27.

JOHN MCCONNICO / AP

Bruiser Woods was Harvard student Elle's companion in "Legally Blonde." He was played by Moonie the chihuahua, whose owner told People magazine that he loves to ride in purses after spending most of his time on set tucked away in a handbag.

Sam Emerson / MGM

Uggie, the dog who starred in the Academy Award-winning film "The Artist," is honored with a hand and paw print ceremony outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on June 25, 2012. The ceremony marked Uggie's retirement from acting after "The Artist" won best picture at the Oscars.

ROBYN BECK / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Crystal the Monkey, who became famous in "The Hangover," has a new show: "Animal Practice" on NBC.

Frederick M. Brown / GETTY IMAGES

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

ANNAPOLIS MD: MAY 24
The Class of 2013 culminates their commissioning ceremony with the hat toss, a traditional ending to the ceremony, originated at the Naval Academy in 1912. The 'hat toss' has since become a symbolic and visual end to the four-year program. Photographed at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland on May 24, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

They tossed their caps in Annapolis

The 2013 Class of the U.S. Naval Academy holds its graduation and commissioning ceremonies.

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 19: Mark Melancon #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros during the game on May 19, 2013 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Astros 1-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

MLB power rankings

Barry Svrluga assesses the best teams in Major League Baseball through Thursday.

epa03714567 A Thai Buddhist family take an offering of lotus flowers to pay respects to a giant Buddha surrounded by more than 1,000 smaller Buddha statues at a Buddhism Park, on Vesak or Visakha Bucha day, in Nakhon Nayok, north of Bangkok, Thailand, 24 May 2013. Buddhist devotees throughout the world offer blessings at temples to mark one of the holiest days in Buddhism, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the death of Buddha. EPA/BARBARA WALTON

Photos of the day

Buddhist Wesak festival, prisoners-of-war reunion, bridge collapse, world’s largest Lego model and more.

SILVER SPRING MD: MAY 18
from left to right, Bodybuilders Jorge Villatoro, Sidney Bumbrey, Eric Holmes and Ron Coleman show off their most muscular poses for the judges at the 2013 Musclemania - Capital Tournament of Champions Contest held at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 18, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Flexing their muscles

Dozens of bodybuilders came out to Silver Spring to compete in the 2013 Musclemania Capital Tournament of Champions.

epa03714543 US actress Carmen Electra arrives for the Life Ball gala, at the airport Schwechat, in Vienna, Austria, 24 May 2013. The 21th Life Ball, an annual fundraising charity event for HIV and Aids projects, takes place at the Vienna City-Hall on 25 May 2013. EPA/HERBERT NEUBAUER

Eye on entertainment

Carmen Electra, Barbara Eden, Sharon Stone, Goldie Hawn, Jaden Smith and more.

MOORE, OK - MAY 24: A 'For Sale' sign hangs in a tree in a storm ravaged neighborhood on May 24, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado of EF5 strength and two miles wide touched down May 20 killing at least 24 people and leaving behind extensive damage to homes and businesses. U.S. President Barack Obama promised federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Assessing tornado damage in Oklahoma

Amid great destruction, residents of the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore begin to assess the severity of the twister that hit Monday.

WASHINGTON DC: MAY 22
Contestant Travis Rumans, 31 dances with his beloved glow sticks for talent at Penn Social in Washington, DC on May 22, 2013. The contestants help raise over $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The Mr. DC pageant is a fundraising event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The qualifications for the Mr. District of Columbia finalists is that they must live, work and attend school in the District of Columbia between the ages of 21-30 who are unmarried, intelligent, and dapper in a suit.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Mr. D.C. Pageant contestants compete for charity

Contestants in the Mr. D.C. Pageant, a fundraising event, helped raise more than $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Animal views

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

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