Anti played Ricky’s character’s pet dog in After Life (Picture: Netflix/ Natalie Seery)
Ricky Gervais has expressed his devastation after his on-screen dog on Netflix drama After Life died aged 13.
German shepherd Anti played Brandy in the series, Ricky’s local journalist character Tony’s pet.
Tony had a particular attachment to Brandy, as she was his late wife Emma’s (Ashley Johnson) pride and joy.
Ricky, 63, announced Anti’s death on X and in a tribute described her as a ‘very good girl.’
The Office co-creator said: ‘Sad News. Anti, who played Brandy in AfterLife, has died. She was 13 and a very good girl.’
His famous friends and followers flooded him with condolences, among them The Thin Blue Line actor James Dreyfus, who wrote: ‘Heartbroken…’
Anti, who played Brandy, has died aged 13 (Picture: PA)
Phil Sledge said: ‘I’m so sorry to hear that. She brought so much joy and love to the show.’
Echoing their sentiment, Bruno shared: ‘On the final scene, when she vanish… man… it made me cry like a child!’
Sheila Bridges: ‘I am so sorry! She was such a beautiful wonderful dog! My family is watching the series with me (I already have watched it ) and even my dog stops to watch Brandy on TV! She is in Dog Heaven! Even if you don’t believe.’
In a longer statement, Ricky said: ‘This is such sad news. Anti was a beautiful soul. We hit it off straight away and she helped make After Life my favourite filming experience of all time. I’m so glad that I told her a hundred times a day that she was a very good girl.’
Ricky said in a tribute that she was a ‘very good girl’ (Picture: PA)
Anti was born in April 2011 in Herefordshire, at the home of Vislor Dog Training Centre, where she was part of a four-legged family that had already appeared on the silver screen.
Both Anti’s parents, also raised by Vislor trainers Travis and Ashley Foster, appeared together with Bane’s henchmen in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Batman: The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.
Anti visited them on set when she was only 10 weeks old before booking her own Hollywood roles, first alongside Tom Cruise in Doug Liman’s Edge of Tomorrow in 2014,
She went on to appear with Michael Fassbender in Trespass Against Us and George Clooney in The Midnight Sky, who later cast Anti in his 2023 release The Boys in the Boat.
Ricky’s friends and followers sent their condolences on social media (Picture: PA)
Anti’s work in TV included BBC’s The Capture alongside Holliday Grainger and Ron Perlman, ITV’s Doc Martin, where she performed stunts with Martin Clunes, Britain’s Got More Talent with David Walliams and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
She also appeared on Good Morning Britain, interviewed with her owners Ashley Foster and Beth Heale, the BBC’s The One Show twice, and Lorraine with Ricky as part of the promotional tour for season three of After Life.
Anti’s final stunt on camera was Midsomer Murders 2024 episode The Debt of Lies, playing a retired police dog who detains the murderer before retiring in real life from film and TV at 11 years old.
After Life is available to stream on Netflix.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.