Holly Golightly’s cat in the iconic 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s was famously described as a “poor slob without a name.” However, in real life, the cat actor who played the part of Cat was anything but. His name was Orangey, and he was a star in his own right, with a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after feline actors.
h/t: vintag.es
Famed animal wrangler Frank Inn trained Orangey, who had over a decade of acting experience before he was cast as Audrey Hepburn’s onscreen companion. His debut in the 1951 film Rhubarb saw him play the lead role of a “millionaire” cat, gifted an entire baseball team by his late owner. Orangey went on to play more serious roles, such as a fugitive cat in the Diary of Anne Frank.
Orangey’s ability to remain on set for seemingly indefinite hours while a movie was in production was just one reason why he was such a successful feline actor. However, behind the scenes, Orangey reportedly exhibited some diva-like behavior, running off set and delaying production until he was found again. Some movie executives even dubbed him “the world’s meanest cat” for his occasional post-scene outbursts of scratching and spitting on costars.
But Orangey’s hard work paid off. Not only did he receive critical acclaim for his role as Cat in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but he also won his second Patsy award, the animal equivalent of an Oscar. He remains the only feline to ever win the award twice.
Even after the box office success of Breakfast, Orangey continued to appear in various movies and TV shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Beverly Hillbillies, until the late 1960s. Orangey may have been a cat without a name on the silver screen, but in real life, he was a Hollywood legend.
