When the cameras are off, Marvel Cinematic Universe stars turn to their beloved four-legged companions for support.
Chris Evans, famous for his portrayal of Captain America, often expresses his deep connection with his dog, Dodger.
When asked about how he named his dog, the Massachusetts native shared a funny story during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October 2020. He explained that he named his canine Dodger after a character in the Disney movie Oliver & Company, which he loved watching as a kid. When he first saw the dog at the shelter, he thought he looked like Dodger, and the name just stuck. Despite considering other names, he couldn't shake off Dodger, so he decided to keep it simple.
Chris Evans, who first met Dodger while filming Gifted in 2017, quickly formed a strong bond with his furry friend. He even went as far as getting Dodger's name tattooed on his chest, a decision he has no regrets about. Evans told Jimmy Kimmel that his relationship with Dodger is probably the purest one he has, showcasing the special connection between them.
The Knives Out actor is not the only MCU star to embrace pet parenthood. Meet the sweet pets of the MCU stars:
Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Marvel Stars and Their Pets: Tom Holland, Chris Evans and More Love Their Dogs, Cats and Beyond
When the cameras stop rolling, Marvel Cinematic Universe stars shift their focus to their four-legged companions instead of super-powered sidekicks.
Chris Evans, famous for portraying Captain America, often expresses his love for his dog, Dodger.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October 2020, the Massachusetts native shared a more embarrassing story about naming his canine. He explained that he named the dog after Dodger from the Disney movie Oliver & Company, which he loved watching as a child. Initially, he couldn't think of any other name for the pup, so he stuck with Dodger without overthinking it.
Chris Evans first met Dodger while filming Gifted in 2017. He felt such a strong bond with the dog that he decided to tattoo Dodger's name on his chest. Evans mentioned on the show that this bond with Dodger is probably the purest relationship he has and that he will never regret getting the tattoo.
The Knives Out actor is not the only MCU star to embrace pet parenthood. Meet the sweet pets of the MCU stars:
Tom Holland Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
Credit: Courtesy of Hailee Steinfeld/Instagram
Hailee Steinfeld
Her Hawkeye character, Kate Bishop, has Lucky the Pizza Dog, but Steinfeld has two puppy pals, Brando and Martini.
Tom Holland Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
Credit: Courtesy of Tessa Thompson/Instagram
Tessa Thompson
As Valkyrie, she rides a Pegasus. Offscreen, she walks her cainine Coltrane.
Tom Holland Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Xochitl Gomez
The Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star (who plays America Chavez/Miss America) loves her dog, Margie.
Tom Holland Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Tom Holland
Tom Holland, a seasoned actor in the West End, adores dogs. He shared his life with a beloved blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Tessa for almost ten years until she passed away in 2024.
Chris Evans Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
Credit: Courtesy of Chris Evans/Instagram
Chris Evans
“[It’s] just me and my dog at this point," Evans revealed on the Graham Norton Show in May 2020 about his lockdown situation amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Chris Hemsworth Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Chris Hemsworth
Lately, I've been focusing on improving my sleep posture. I've been watching wild animals in their natural environment to see how they sleep, and I'm really feeling the benefits. In April 2020, I shared a video on Instagram where I copied my dog Sonny's sleeping position.
Jeremy Renner Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Jeremy Renner
The Hawkeye alum has two French bulldogs named Bentley and Hemi.
Mark Ruffalo Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Mark Ruffalo
“Cats for days, all ways, happy,” the 13 Going on 30 actor shared via social media while celebrating National Cat Day in October 2021 with his feline, Felix.
Chris Pratt Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Chris Pratt
In June 2019, Katherine Schwarzenegger, the wife of Guardians of the Galaxy star, gave him a special gift - a pair of Kune-Kune pigs.
Chris Pratt, who is expecting his second child with Schwarzenegger in 2022, shared on Instagram that he named the pigs Tim and Faith. He described them as beautiful and their love as palpable and inspiring. Pratt expressed his excitement to watch them grow and clarified that they will not be used for bacon. Tim and Faith are now part of the Friendly Kingdom, a group of animals like sheep, goats, and pigs who are pardoned and will live happily on the farm until they pass naturally many years from now.
Brie Larson Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Brie Larson
“When you miss your dog so much you FaceTime with him,” the Captain Marvel star tweeted in February 2016.
Dave Bautista Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Dave Bautista
The former wrestler, who adopted four dogs, got a trio of tattoos in honor of his pets: Frankie, Penny, Ollie and Maggie.
Don Cheadle Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
Credit: Courtesy of Don Cheadle/Instagram
Don Cheadle
Cheadle is a proud dog dad to two canine companions.
Hayley Atwell Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Hayley Atwell
Atwell frequently dotes on her Frenchies: Iris and Wolfie.
Jon Favreau Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
Credit: Courtesy of Jon Favreau/Instagram
Jon Favreau
The Iron Man director, who plays Happy Hogan across the MCU, adopted a cat in August 2018.
Josh Brolin Marvel Stars and Their Beloved Pets
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Josh Brolin
Brolin, who portrayed big bad Thanos in the first three MCU phases, has a dog named Milo.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the strong bond between Marvel Cinematic Universe stars and their beloved pets. Chris Evans's deep connection with his dog, Dodger, is particularly touching, as evidenced by the tattoo he got of his furry friend's name on his chest. Other MCU stars, such as Tom Holland, Tessa Thompson, and Hailee Steinfeld, also share heartwarming relationships with their canine companions. The article also mentions that Mark Ruffalo is a cat lover, while Chris Pratt has a unique bond with his Kune-Kune pigs. It's evident that these Marvel stars find solace and companionship in their pets when they're not fighting villains on screen.
This article is a testament to the human-animal bond and the special role that pets play in our lives. Whether it's a dog, cat, pig, or any other species, our furry friends provide us with unconditional love, support, and a sense of purpose. As the article points out, even superheroes like Chris Evans need their "sidekicks" to keep them grounded and happy.