Abbey Dog: Do you remember Sam, the dog who acted alongside Will Smith in the apocalyptic sci-fi film I Am Legend? It has been 10 years since the movie came out, and the dog, whose real name is Abbey, is still doing well. Abbey is currently living happily with her family and trainer, Steve Berens.
“Abbey is older now, and she has some hearing difficulties. However, she is still active, enjoys playing with a ball, and loves chewing on bones,” Steve shared in a recent interview.
“When you collaborate with many actors, they often lack interest in the animal aspect. For them, it becomes something that takes the audience’s attention away from them.”
“But Will was not at all like that. He understood that this was his co-star, and he really dug it and really got into it. […] I think that she really liked him, and that made a difference.”
As a child, Will Smith experienced the loss of a dog in a car accident, which caused him immense pain. He made a promise to himself that he would never have another pet. However, his bond with Abbey on the movie set was so strong that he asked her trainer if he could adopt her as his own.
“I kept asking him, really pleading, ‘Please allow me to be with Abbey. Please, please, please let me be with her.’ However, she now has her own family, so it was just another one of those short-lived relationships that often happen in Hollywood.”
If you need a reminder about the movie, here are a couple of video clips that showcase the special connection between Will Smith and Abbey.
