Air Bud Creator Kevin DiCicco Passes Away

0:00On March 24, Kevin DeSico, the man behind the beloved airbud movies, has died at age 63 in San Diego. His brother confirmed the passing happened on Saturday, March 21 after time in hospice care. DeSico battled advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from years of heavy smoking, which inflames the airways and restricts breathing. Just weeks ago, he faced severe pneumonia, undergoing breathing treatments, tests, and antibiotics during a hospital stay. Back in the 90s, DeSico found a stray golden retriever near his Yosemite cabin and trained the dog named Buddy in basketball and soccer. That led to Buddy's breakout on America's funniest home videos and a spot on late night with David Letterman. The duels talents landed Buddy the lead in Disney's 1997 hit airbud, sparking sequels like Airbud Spikes back in 2003, and Airbuddies in 2006. Buddy even earned a kid's choice awards nod as favorite animal star before passing from cancer at age 9 that same year.

1:03In late 2024, DeSico shared his struggles with homelessness after maxing out shelter time in San Diego just over four months before. His death, his story with Buddy, remains a heartwarming legacy in family films. Stay in the know with entertainment and celebrity news today, AI-powered updates.