Prototype of Donkey from Shrek Dies After Serious Illness

In California (USA), Perry the donkey, who served as the prototype for Donkey from Shrek, died at the age of 30. According to the owners, he had to be put to sleep due to a serious hoof disease.

As the Californian publication Pao Alto Online writes, the miniature donkey Perry lived in Ball Park for almost 30 years as a pet and a local landmark. It was he who became the source of inspiration for Eddie Murphy's character from the original Shrek in 2001.

It happened by accident. As the staff of Ball Park says, one of the DreamWorks animators lived nearby and decided to visit the donkey pasture to pick up a reference. He really liked Perry, and later the artist brought the rest of the animation team, introducing him to the four-legged model. The donkey himself had a playful character and «loved nipping the occasional visitor in the butt».

The park staff reported that Perry had recently suffered from a hoof disease that caused him severe pain. Veterinarians tried all the remedies and medications, but they did not help the donkey. Therefore, Perry was recently euthanized to relieve him of his suffering. Now the Ball Park staff is planning to hold a memorial service for the celebrity.

Recall that in the summer, Eddie Murphy announced the production of Shrek 5. The cartoon will be released on July 1, 2026.