Bradley Cooper cast his own dog, Charlie, for a featured part in A Star Is Born, and even before the film hit theaters, Cooper joked that the fame had gone to his fluffy head. “I don’t talk to him much anymore,” Cooper joked to People on the carpet before the Sept. 24 Los Angeles premiere. “He doesn’t return my calls. He always walks away from me unless I have food.”
Charlie may be even harder to reach after this: PETA announced today that it has created an inaugural prize — called the Compassion in Film Award — which the organization is doling out to Cooper, the co-writer, director and star of A Star Is Born, for casting the dog in the film.
In announcing the news, PETA senior vice president Lisa Lange said, “Bradley Cooper’s happy, adorable and much loved dog steals the spotlight — and viewers’ hearts — in this film because it’s clear that he loved being with his real-life ‘dad.’ PETA has witnessed so much abuse and neglect of dogs, both on and off set, that we’re hoping Cooper’s kind decision sets a precedent for all of Hollywood to follow.”
