|
Diefenbaker - Deaf wolf sidekick and
constant companion of Constable Benton Fraser
(Paul Gross), an RCMP Deputy Liaison officer for
the Canadian Consulate in Chicago, Illinois on
the police drama DUE SOUTH/CBS/SYN/1994-98.
Benton Fraser,
Diefenbaker and Det. Ray Vecchio
Fraser found Diefenbaker as a pup lost in an
abandoned mine in the Yukon. He treats
Diefenbaker (a wolf hybrid) with respect,
although sometimes they do get on each others
nerves.
The wolf's handicapped condition can be traced
to icy water that burst the wolf's eardrums and
took away his hearing (Diefenbaker saved
Fraser's life by pulling him out of Prince
Rupert Sound).
Luckily, Diefenbaker picked up the ability to
read lips in English and in Inuit.
Fraser's wolf friend has a sweet tooth for
chocolate and an open account at a local Dunkin'
Donuts store.
On the episode "Wild Bunch" Diefenbaker sired
three pup (among them Buster & Sunshine) with
another husky named Maggie.
"There is nothing more frustrating than
playing
hide and seek with a deaf wolf." -- Fraser
TRIVIA NOTE:
The first dog (Frankie) used in the pilot movie
DUE SOUTH was replaced by a young Siberian husky
named Lincoln who played Diefenbaker for the
series' first and second seasons.
Lincoln was owned and trained specifically for
DUE SOUTH, by Ted Haggis (father of the series'
creator Paul Haggis). However, Paul Gross made
the decision not to bring Lincoln back for
Seasons 3 and 4.
A new husky, Draco the Dragonheart, was then
brought in to play Fraser's canine companion.
Draco was owned trained by Gail & Rick Parker of
Canadian Wranglers Motion Picture Animals
Limited.
Four other Siberian huskies dogs - Chinook,
Keary-Ann, her daughter MacKenzie King, and
Cinder (Draco's sister) - were used as well. A
dummy dog named Stiffy was used for dangerous
stunts.
John Diefenbaker, a Tory Populist, was the Prime
Minister of Canada in the mid-1960s.
See also -
HATS: Constable Benton's Hat
External Links
Back to Top
|
