The Glorious Story Of Mr. Winkle, First Animal Star Of The Internet
Before animal memes captured our hearts, Mr. Winkle was a star that stood alone. Here is his dramatic tale of fame, fortune, and excess.
Long ago, before stars like Lil Bub and Boo were on the scene, a different kind of animal reigned.

He was a dog that chose to go where no dog had gone before.

This dog had strength. This dog had poise. This dog had a tongue that wouldn't stay in his mouth.

This dog was MR. WINKLE.

As the internet was in its infancy, Mr. Winkle captured the hearts and minds of an unsuspecting early-2000's public.

Via cityweekly.net
Mr. Winkle quickly developed a following.

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Before long, he could barely go out in public without attracting a crowd of adoring fans and paparazzi.

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Without warning, he was forced to come to terms with his new-found celebrity.

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Soon he was on tour across the nation, living the life of a rockstar.

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Mr. Winkle rubbed elbows with some of the biggest stars of his time...

That right there? Betty White.

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Here he is on the red carpet with Kevin Nealon and Caroline Rhea.

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Here he's patiently allowing Rosie O'Donnell a momentary embrace.

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Even the dog from Frasier wanted a piece of him.

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Groupies on the road were a constant temptation for the young star.

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"I was just trying to figure out who I really was, you know? But everywhere I turned, there were cameras," Mr. Winkle later said of that chaotic time in his life.

Via mrwinkle.com
"The fans, they only wanted one thing, and what they wanted wasn't who I really was," he said.

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"They'd come up to me with all of these questions, and all of these assumptions about who I was and where I was from, and it was just exhausting."

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"All these perceptions, I just lost sight of who I was, and what I was doing with my life," he said.

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Fame became too much to handle. Like so many celebrities before him, Mr. Winkle developed a drinking problem.

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"I felt as though I was being buried by my own achievements."

He began missing tour dates, frustrating fans and colleagues alike.

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The troubled star had some run-ins with the law.

His demons began to take a toll on his health, and Mr. Winkle quickly backed away from the limelight.

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At the insistence of loved ones, Mr. Winkle quit showbiz entirely.

"I started focusing on what really mattered in my life, family and friends," said Winkle regarding his life after fame.

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"Do I miss the glory days, the glitz and glam? Sometimes. But I like where I am now in my life."

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Every once in a while Mr. Winkle will come out of retirement for the sake of a good calendar. His new one for 2014 is available now.

Via mrwinkle.com
Check it out here.
But we'll always remember him as a trailblazer, a star that shone brighter than any before him.

Via larajoregan.com
We will remember him as simply... Mr. Winkle.

Via larajoregan.com
Check out Mr. Winkle's guardian's photos here.