Ricky Gervais has shared the heart-wrenching news that a beloved star of After Life, Anti, who played Brandy the dog in the popular Netflix series, has passed away at the age of 13. The comedian and actor took to social media to share a touching photo of himself with the German Shepherd on a park bench.
He captioned the post: “Sad News. ‘Anti’, who played ‘Brandy’ in After Life, has died. She was 13 and a very good girl.”
He added a crying face emoji to his post as fans quickly paid their respects to the canine and shared their thoughts on the series. One user wrote: “It was the most simple yet profound series I’ve ever watched. Watching you in this role, I constantly saw myself. It was a series where I confronted myself and life. You and Brandy were amazing.”
Another commented: “I’m so sorry to hear that. She brought so much joy and love to the show.”
A third shared: “I lost my GSD a few years back. Such wonderful dogs,” while a fourth expressed: “Very sorry to hear it, Ricky. They are family. Condolences.”
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In After Life, Ricky portrayed Tony, a man grappling with his wife’s death, reports the Mirror.
He played a newspaper columnist who adopts a new persona to push away those trying to help him. Anti was seen in the touching role of his best friend at home, Brandy, who supports Tony through his grief.
In 2022, the dog’s owner, Beth Heale told BBC: “What she is to Tony, is what she is to us in real life.”
She continued: “We don’t have children, just like how Lisa and Tony don’t in the show. It sends a poignant message throughout – dogs are there for you when people can’t be and Antilly is always there.”
Antilly also had an Instagram account that was followed by thousands. Her passing was announced on the platform with a touching montage of memories, including her time with Ricky and a picture with the late Paul O’Grady.
The post said: “Vislor Antilly, After Life’s Brandy, has sadly passed away. We already miss her terribly. Sleep well xxx” Antilly’s role in After Life wasn’t her only brush with stardom. At just 10 weeks old, she was on the set of The Dark Knight Rises with her other owner, Ashley Foster, who works as a TV and film extra.
He appeared as one of Bane’s henchmen while both of Antilly’s parents played attack dogs. Often cast as a police dog or guard dog, Antilly also graced the screen in Midsomer Murders, Doc Martin, and the 2016 movie Denial.
Her other appearances include Trespass Against Us, The Midnight Sky, and The Boys in the Boat. Ricky, a vocal advocate for animal rights, has often expressed his deep connection with dogs, stating he would do ‘anything’ for them.
Reflecting on the bond humans share with dogs, he once remarked: “You know me. I’ll do anything for dogs.”
“It was acting but it’s pretty easy to get emotional over a beautiful dog. If the kindest souls were rewarded with the longest lives, dogs would outlive us all.”