Pal: The Collie Who Played Lassie and Founded a Dynasty

The most famous female dog in film history was played by a male dog named Pal — and every Lassie since has been his blood relative. That single collie started an acting dynasty that has run for more than ten generations.

Who Pal was

Pal was a male Rough Collie owned and trained by Rudd Weatherwax, one of Hollywood’s legendary animal trainers. He was originally brought to Weatherwax as a problem dog, then won the role of Lassie for MGM’s “Lassie Come Home” in 1943 opposite a young Elizabeth Taylor and Roddy McDowall. Male collies were preferred for the part because they carry a fuller coat, so the “female” Lassie audiences fell in love with was, from the very first film, a male dog.

The dynasty he started

Pal retired from starring roles at about age five, and here is where his story becomes unique among screen dogs: nearly every Lassie that followed was his direct descendant. When the “Lassie” television series launched in 1954 and ran for 19 years, a succession of Pal’s bloodline played the part. Trainers have kept the line intact ever since, and the Lassie working today is a tenth-generation direct descendant of Pal — a fully registered collie carrying the same genes as the 1943 original.

The trainer behind the legend

The dynasty exists because of Rudd Weatherwax. MGM eventually handed him the rights to the Lassie name and trademark in lieu of back pay it owed him, and Weatherwax — later his son Bob — bred and trained every Lassie for generations. It made the family the custodians of one of the most valuable animal brands in entertainment, all descended from one rescued collie with a problem behavior nobody else wanted.

Pal stands among the screen legends in the internet’s most famous dogs, the dogs who earned fame in front of a camera long before the internet existed.

Frequently asked questions

What breed was Lassie?

Lassie was played by Rough Collies. The original, a dog named Pal, was a male Rough Collie, and his descendants have played the role for generations.

Was Lassie a boy or a girl?

The character Lassie is female, but she has always been played by male collies, starting with Pal in 1943, because males carry a fuller coat on camera.

Are today’s Lassies related to the original?

Yes. The current Lassie is a tenth-generation direct descendant of Pal, the collie who played the role in “Lassie Come Home” in 1943.