Fans of the ABC sitcom Modern Family are getting ready to say goodbye, as the long-running sitcom will air its final episode next month.
But the goodbye is even more bittersweet now, with the news that one beloved cast member has just passed away: Beatrice, the French bulldog who played family pet Stella.
In a bittersweet twist, she reportedly died right after the cast filmed the series finale.
The news was first reported by The Blast, and one of the dog’s trainers confirmed the news on Instagram.
Beatrice was part of Good Dog Animals, an dog actor agency for film and TV. She was actually the second dog to play Stella, but played her for most of the show’s run, beginning in season 4.
According to her profile, she also appeared on shows like Workaholics, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and The Kominsky Method. She also knew how to skateboard.
She was a big, memorable part of the show’s ensemble. Stella was the beloved pet of Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill).
A running joke on the show was how Jay loved the dog more than anything… maybe even more than his wife Gloria, who was never a fan of Stella.
Amazingly, the actors were just as close off-screen.
“Ed O’Neill is in love with her!” Beatrice’s owners told Bodie on the Road. “It’s very easy working with him because he brings Beatrice treats like popcorn and always looks out for her.”
“We’ll be doing scenes in the backyard by the pool and in between takes he’ll say, ‘Would you please get Beatrice an umbrella, she’s in the sun!'”
She was clearly a beloved part of the whole Modern Family set. Actors from the show have been posting tributes to Beatrice after the news of her death.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitch on the series, tweeted a photo of himself with the dog, writing “Rest In Peace sweet Beatrice. We love you so much.”
Modern Family will air its hour-long finale on April 8, a chance for fans to say farewell to to the long-running series and to Beatrice.
But we’ll always have the laughs the show gave us over the years—including so many about Stella.
Rest in peace, Beatrice! Thank you for all the joy you’ve given fans over the years.
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