B.C. llama named Todd works as screen actor, rests in hotel room
Although he’s not being pestered by paparazzi or fending off fans now, Bonnie Nicholls says the llama that she’s walking down the street with is just as leisurely in the limelight.
“He’s very easy going,” says the llama wrangler from the Fat Chance Ranch. “He’s a crowd pleaser.”
Although the llama was named after the fox in the classic Disney movie “The Fox and the Hound,” Todd never sought out screen stardom.
“It started with us going out and about in the community,” Bonnie says.
She and Todd would attend fundraisers and visit seniors' centres to lift people’s spirits.
“He loves visiting everyone,” Bonnie smiles. “The word got out that he’s just so much fun.”
Word got out that not only was there no drama with this llama, Todd had that star quality that people couldn’t get enough of.
“[He’s] like a bag of chips,” Bonnie says. “You can’t just have one. You have to have the whole bag.”
A whole lot of productions started casting Todd. Bonnie says the llama’s been seen on screen more than 20 times, from Disney Channel movies to Walmart commercials.
Todd’s currently filming the Hallmark series "Holidaze." Behind-the-scenes photos from the set show that the crew, from craft services to the audio department, is going la-la for the llama. There’s even one picture showing the first assistant director and Todd exchanging a kiss.
“It’s almost like when you bring a baby into a room and it’s like the whole room lights up,” Bonnie says. “You bring a llama into the room and the same thing happens.”
When he’s done working on-set, Bonnie brings Todd back to the hotel.
“The staff here are amazing,” Bonnie says of her stay at Victoria’s Accent Inn. “They not only accommodate the two-legged role, but the four-legged folk.”
Then again, Todd is house-trained. The llama also never makes diva-like demands, despite having a propensity to pause and appreciate his appearance in the mirror above the sink.
“He thought that was pretty cool,” Bonnie says, as the llama walks past the bed and kitchenette to look at himself in the full-length mirror too.
Then the llama lies down on the floor, beside the bed (which he’s more than half the size of) and prepares for some leisure time.
At the end of the day, Todd enjoys spending some of his free time snacking out of a bowl, watching TV, and commenting on what he sees.
“He’s chatting,” Bonnie says of the slightly high-pitched purring sounds that Todd makes. “He’s kind of a talker.”
And as for the llama’s entourage of one, Bonnie kisses the soft white fur around his face and describes herself as “Todd’s mom.”
Like most moms, Bonnie couldn’t be more proud that her little Todd has grown up to be a down-to-earth star, making everyone he meets feel like they’re in “Shangri-llama.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.