Bart the Bear, an extraordinary animal star in Hollywood, was born in 1977 and brought to Utah by renowned animal trainer Doug Seus. In 1980, Bart began his acting career and, as he grew to an impressive 9 feet tall, the average height for Alaskan brown bears.
Throughout his illustrious career, Bart starred in several iconic films, including The Great Outdoors in 1988, On Deadly Ground in 1994, and The Edge in 1997. His co-stars, including John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Steven Seagal, Anthony Hopkins, and Alec Baldwin, were all amazed by the bear's exceptional acting abilities and thoroughly enjoyed working alongside him.
Tragically, Bart's life was cut short when he passed away in 2000 at the age of 23 due to cancer, during the filming of Animal Planet's Growing Up Grizzly in 2001. His legacy lives on through his namesake, Little Bart, and his sister, Honey Bump. The story of Bart's early life is marked by tragedy, as his mother was killed, and he was taken in by Doug and Lynne Seus.
In honor of Bart's remarkable life and his incredible talent, Doug and Lynne Seus founded the Vital Ground Foundation, with Bart serving as its first ambassador. The organization's mission is to preserve and protect the habitats of great grizzlies and other wildlife, ensuring that future generations can continue to thrive in harmony with nature.
