Kevin DiCicco, the owner of the basketball-playing golden retriever Buddy, passed away at age 63. DiCicco, who had health issues and faced homelessness, died in hospice care in San Diego. He adopted Buddy in 1989 and trained him for various sports, leading to the creation of the successful Air Bud franchise, which started with the 1997 film. Despite the franchise’s great commercial success, DiCicco reported minimal profits. After losing his job during the pandemic, he experienced homelessness and health challenges but managed to continue through public fundraising. Buddy, who died in 1998, inspired the series’ continuation.
Meta Data: {“keywords”:”Kevin DiCicco,Air Bud,Buddy”}
