Overview
- DiCicco, who died Saturday in hospice in San Diego, was 63, his brother Mark confirmed to TMZ and other outlets.
- He had long struggled with advanced COPD, was recently hospitalized with severe pneumonia, and had entered hospice before his death.
- He discovered Buddy near a Yosemite cabin in 1989, trained him to perform sports tricks, and parlayed TV spots into the 1997 film Air Bud.
- Despite creator and character credits across sequels and spin-offs, he said he saw little pay from the films, and supporters later helped cover housing and medical costs through GoFundMe.
- The first movie earned about $23 million on a $3 million budget and launched a long-running family franchise that remains active, with a new installment announced in 2025.