Gidget the Taco Bell Dog Dies

It’s a sad day for fans of animal spokes…persons?

Gidget, the cute little Chihuahua made famous in Taco Bell commercials for the phase “Yo quiero Taco Bell,” (”I want Taco Bell!”) passed away last night from a stroke at the age of 15.

The Taco Bell spokesdog was initially played by a chihuahua named Dinky, who was quickly replaced by Gidget. Argentine American actor Carlos Alazraqui did the voice work for the commercials.

The Taco Bell spots starring Gidget began airing in the Northeast U.S. in 1997 and the response was so good that they began airing nationwide not long after, and Americans across the country clamored for their own little “Taco Bell dogs.”

Gidget also participated in a “cross-over” commercial with the Geico gecko in 2002, and did some big-screen acting as Bruiser’s mom “Moonie” in the movie Legally Blond 2, starring Reese Witherspoon.

[image: zuma press]