Ricky Gervais heartbroken over death of After Life co-star as he pays tribute to scene stealer
DEVASTATED Ricky Gervais has revealed his trusty After Life sidekick has died.
The hit sitcom's creator announced on social media this afternoon that Antilly the dog, who plays his character Tony's dog Brandy, passed away aged 13.
He wrote: "Sad News. 'Anti', who played 'Brandy' in After Life, has died. She was 13 and a very good girl [crying emoji]."
Gervais cast Brandy personally for his smash comedy and it led her to be branded "the world's most famous dog".
In a further tribute, he 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.”
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Fans were heartbroken, with one commenting: "I’ve never cried as much as when Brandy barked when Tony was about to top himself. Clever doggy. Bestest girl. What a celebration of your life."
Another said: "Sleep well little one."
A third said: "Rest in peace angel, thank you for you acting service."
The German Shepherd, whose parents starred in Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, died at home in Oxfordshire.
She was a TV stalwart having appeared in Doc Martin with Martin Clunes and For The Love of Dogs with Paul O'Grady, among others.
But it was for After Life that the trusty pooch is best known.
She was a life-saving crutch for Tony as he navigated life after the death of his wife Lisa from cancer.
Whenever he was away from his job as a local reporter, she was by his side.
It's not just the small screen that Anti has graced, she's also rubbed shoulders with Hollywood's elite too.
She appeared with Tom Cruise in 2014's Edge of Tomorrow and with Michael Fassbender in Trespass Against Us and George Clooney in The Midnight Sky.
Her final TV job came last July in Midsomer Murders episode, The Debt of Lies, playing a retired police dog who detains the murderer.
