Sad news for all "Legally Blonde" fans: Moonie, the Chihuahua that played the role of Bruiser Woods in the hit 2001 film died yesterday at 18 years old. Reese Witherspoon, the actress who played Bruiser's ambitious owner Elle Woods, shared the sad news and paid tribute to the pup in an Instagram post.
The 39-year-old actress posted a throwback photo of herself on the film's set, wearing a pink hat and an off-the-shoulder top, holding little Moonie with one hand. The stylish pup was in character as Bruiser, wearing a pink and purple sweater and what seems to be a Tiffany dog collar.
"With a sad heart, I have to let all the #LegallyBlonde fans know that Bruiser Woods (also known as Moonie) passed away yesterday," Witherspoon wrote in the Instagram caption, tagging the dog's trainer Sue Chip. "He was a sweet little Chihuahua who was very loved. I will never forget all the days we spent together ... I'm sure his tail is wagging in the sky. Sending love to his trainer, the wonderful @tailsticks #RIPBruiser."
Chip also took to Instagram to pay tribute to the pooch, sharing a photo of Moonie accompanying Witherspoon on the day she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The adorable, fashion-forward dog wore a white sweater with black, red and gray detailing for the event.
"On this day - a day of 'throwbacks' I give you one of the greatest little dogs... 'Moonie' of Legally Blonde fame," Chip wrote. "I'm sad to say that this morning in Los Angeles he left us. He was a whopping 18 years old. I remember the day I brought him home as a puppy.
The pup played Bruiser in both "Legally Blonde" and its 2003 sequel "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde," a series which focused on Elle's journey as she enrolled in law school in an attempt to win her ex-boyfriend back, but ended up forging a successful career as an attorney. In "Legally Blonde 2," Bruiser is Elle's inspiration to fight for animal rights with "Bruiser's Bill."
See Witherspoon and Chip's tributes to Moonie below.