Shrek icon dies aged 30 after inspiring Eddie Murphy's character in hit films

The donkey that inspired Eddie Murphy's character in the Shrek films has died aged 30.

Perry, a beloved miniature donkey, was born in 1994 and had lived in Barron Park, Palo Alto, California since the age of three. Perry became a celebrity after animators for the original 2001 Shrek film modelled the character of Donkey on him.

Perry passed away peacefully on Thursday (January 2) after battling a painful hoof disease, according to the donkey’s handler, Jenny Kiratli. She told Palo Alto Online that Perry was euthanized as he had been suffering from laminitis, a hoof disease that caused him excruciating pain.

The park confirmed Perry's passing in a touching tribute shared on Instagram. They said: "We are heartbroken to share that our beloved Barron park donkey, Perry, passed away yesterday at the age of 30.

"He was a beloved member of our community and we know many people will be touched by his passing. Memorial plans will be announced soon."

It was previously revealed that Perry posed for photos and sketches to model the Donkey character for the animated films and paid around £60 for the role. Jenny told SFGATE: "It’s evident if you know Perry and watch the movie that it’s him.

"It’s amazing how much of our donkey is in Donkey, the way he flips his head when he’s mad at Shrek, the way he trots." The first Shrek film, released in 2001, won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

It follows a lonely and grumpy ogre (Mike Myers) who agrees to retrieve Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) for Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) but ends up falling in love with Fiona. He also befriends a talking Donkey (Eddie Murphy) along the way.

The park also said Perry "captured the hearts of the Barron Park community and far beyond with his beautiful soulful eyes, his sweet and gentle disposition, his amiable stroll to the pasture gate to greet his visitors, and of course his contribution to the movie Shrek.

"Perry delighted the neighbourhood over the years with his frequent appearances at Barron Park community events and his daily walks along the bicycle path, most recently with his companions Buddy and April," they wrote.

"We are all filled with sadness at his passing, but in his last weeks he was in pain and was suffering increasingly from a condition known as laminitis which is not curable. In Perry's last weeks, all of the handlers spent many hours at the pasture with him, petting him, cradling him, singing to him, and telling him that he was and always will be loved."

Donkeys typically live to be between 25 and 40 years old.