Perry, the inspiration for Donkey character in 'Shrek,' passes away

Perry, the real-life donkey who inspired the character Donkey in the film Shrek, passed away at the age of 30.

Perry's death was announced on the Barron Park Donkeys Instagram account, which stated that the he was a "beloved member of the community" and that "many people would be touched by his passing."

The donkey park also said that memorial plans will be announced soon.

"We will miss you Perry. You were a special donkey. We were lucky to have known you and we will never forget you," it wrote.

According to the post, Perry was in pain and suffered increasingly last week from an incurable disease called "laminitis." 

"In Perry's last week, all of the handlers spent many hours at the pasture with him, singing to him, and telling him that he was and will always be loved." 

A donkey with 'beautiful soulful eyes'

The post also narrated Perry's life, saying that he came to Barron Park in 1997 as a "young" and "feisty" 3-year-old companion to Miner Forty-Niner. 

It also stated how Perry delighted the Barron Community with his beautiful, soulful eyes and how his life was used in the movie Shrek as the "motion model" for the Donkey character.

Donkey, voiced by American actor and comedian Eddie Murphy, is a fictional character in William Steig's Shrek series. In the film, he is an anthropomorphic donkey with grey fur, brown eyes, and a black mane.