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Meet Golden Performance Star Jesse
The show, Sue Thomas, F.B. Eye, premiered on Sunday, October 13,
2002 and ran for three seasons. This series told the story of a real person, Sue Thomas, a deaf woman who
went to work for the FBI. She initially analyzed fingerprints, but her incredibly ability
to read lips with accuracy led to a new job. She was able to figure out what suspects were
saying on surveillance tapes that were devoid of sound. Thomas is actually played by deaf
actress Deanne Bray. According to the show's producers, more than 28
million Americans are deaf or hard of hearing. Yet the hearing community knows little of
what it's like not being able to hear. Hopefully, this show should help rectify that. In
the case of Hearing Dog Levi (played by
Golden Retriever Jesse), the dog does provide some comic relief in the show. But, don't
get upset when they show some of the dangers associated with the job. In the two-hour premiere, Sue helped take down one
of the world's most wanted men, getting Levi shot in the process. Since this is a TV show,
and on the friendly Pax network to boot, it's a sure thing that a Golden, lying comatose
in a hospital bed, is going to wake up and look lovingly at his mom. It is certainly
unique that a show about a deaf person, even though who by all accounts is quite
extraordinary, would get made, and that it would actually star a deaf person.
But, you can be certain that the real star of the
show, at least in the early going, is Golden Hearing Dog, Levi. An abuse victim, Levi
failed training school, but Sue wanted him anyway. The trainer had warned that there were
major concerns that Levi had the necessary capabilities. But, Sue indicated that the same
things used to be said about her. Obviously, it was a match made in heaven.
Jesse, the 5-year-old guy who played Levi,
was not new to the show business world. He landed his first role on the Nickelodeon TV
series Animorphs based on the popular Scholastic books by K.A. Applegate soon
after his first birthday. Born at a celebrated dog breeding establishment outside of
Toronto, Jesse was discovered by Bryan Renfro, a professional animal trainer who also
worked on Benji the Hunted, Gremlins, Goosebumps and Twilight Zone. Bryan trained this guy
with a combination of love, reward, praise and lots of doggy toys.
After a two-year hiatus in California, Jesse
reunited with Renfro for the role of Levi on Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye. He resides
with Renfro in Pickering, Ontario. On his
days off, Jesse enjoys running through corn fields, chasing sticks and spending quiet
evenings at home. |
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