Kevin DiCicco, the dog trainer who created the beloved Air Bud character, has died at age 63. He passed away on March 21 in San Diego after time in hospice care, his family confirmed. DiCicco rescued and trained the Golden Retriever Buddy, leading to the popular film franchise.
Kevin DiCicco, known for training the Golden Retriever Buddy into the sports-playing star of the Air Bud films, died on March 21 in San Diego following hospice care. His brother Mark confirmed the news to TMZ, noting DiCicco was 63 years old at the time of his death. DiCicco first gained attention by rescuing a stray Golden Retriever near his Yosemite cabin and teaching Buddy tricks that landed them on America's Funniest Home Videos and Late Night With David Letterman. Partnering with independent producer Keystone Entertainment, DiCicco brought his concept to film. Miramax acquired distribution rights, and Disney released Air Bud straight to video, sparking sequels like Air Bud: Spikes Back and Air Buddies. The franchise earned DiCicco 11 credits for creating the character, making Buddy a family film icon. In recent years, DiCicco faced health struggles including COPD that led to hospitalizations, as well as homelessness in San Diego amid chronic illness. Speaking to Fox 5 San Diego, he expressed frustration over finances: 'They are so cleverly crafted to make sure that these films don’t really ever receive the big money. That’s why we now find ourselves in a position of instead of enjoying those twilight years and sliding into retirement, we’re almost having to start over.' A new film, Air Bud Returns, was announced in 2025.
