Screen grab from YouTube/TomHardy Dotorg
Tom Hardy may have brought to life some of the meanest, most cruel characters in the big screen, but in reality, he’s a “softie” when it comes to animals.
The 39-year-old British character actor recently wrote a heartwarming tribute to his six-year-old pet dog Woodstock, who tragically passed away after a 6-month battle with an inflammatory muscular disease called polymysotisis.
Hardy described the beloved dog as his “bestest friend ever,” whom he found as a stray during filming of his 2012 movie, “Lawless”.
“I don’t normally speak out about family and friends but this is an unusual circumstance,” he wrote in a blog post which recently made rounds on Tumblr. “He was far too young to leave us and we at home are devastated by his loss.”
In a lengthy yet moving tale of genuine love at first sight, “The Revenant” star shared how he found the 11-week-old puppy—hungry and covered in feces—avoiding traffic in the busy Atlanta interstate.
He took the scared and exhausted pup to his car, where it laid on his shoulder and fell asleep.
“Never forget that night. It was wonderful,” he wrote. “I will always be eternally grateful to Georgia. It gave me the greatest of joys of being a dog owner.”
Hardy also detailed the special relationship “Woody” had with his wife, Charlotte Riley.
“Charlotte worked tirelessly with him to get him through a rough case of separation anxiety,” he wrote. “He loved her like his Mum. And when she was pregnant he guarded her fiercely.”
Aside from bringing joy to the Hardy household, the four-legged sidekick was also a staple among red carpet events, as Tom frequently brought him along during movie premieres.
“He was an Angel. And he was my best friend. We went through so much together,” Hardy praised his fallen comrade. “Thank you Woody for choosing to find us. We will love you and be with you and you with us forever. Never ever ever forgotten. Your Boy tom,” he signed his letter.
A photo montage of Tom and Woody is available below. Khristian Ibarrola/JB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-buMRduwOU4
RELATED STORY:
Channing Tatum pens heartfelt letter to daughter, wife