Higgins was the unnamed "dog" actor from the television sitcom Petticoat Junction. He came out from retirement as an estimated age of 14 to star in the 1974 feature film Benji and a 1977 sequel, For The Love of Benji .
Higgins was trained by Frank Inn, who also trained Arnold Ziffel (the pig) and all the other animals used on the Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres sitcoms.
Inn found the famous canine at the Burbank Animal Shelter in the early 1960s. The poodle, cocker spaniel, and schnauzer mix had an extraordinary ability to convey a broad range of emotions through his facial expressions. Higgins' special tricks included opening a mailbox and removing a letter, yawning, and sneezing on cue.
Higgins' progeny have carried on his early work in a continuing series of movies and television series featuring the Benji character.
His ashes were buried with trainer Inn, who died in 2002.
