Animals in film and television have captivated audiences and stolen our hearts for decades. From Bambi to Free Willy, they have all left their mark.

Rocket, the space pirate raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy, has been no different. We are saddened to announce that Oreo, the real life Rocket, has passed away at the age of 10. While Oreo himself was not in Guardians of the Galaxy, Oreo was the model that the animation team used to craft Rocket’s features and movements.

Oreo’s owner, Quinta Layla, shared to social media on February 7th, 2019, that Oreo had unfortunately passed away after battling a short illness. While she did not specify the cause, she had shared publicly that he had been feeling ill for a couple of days. In her post, she thanked the vets for their care of Oreo.

The loss of a pet is heartbreaking all on its own. To lose such a well-known pet is heartbreaking to us all. Quinta, we mourn with you. May Oreo have peace on the other side, and as Thor would say, “Farewell Rabbit.”

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Sam Strange
Sam Strange