A Giraffe Stands Out Even in Malibu’s Star-Studded Environment

• An Out-of-the Ordinary Celebrity Was Spotted Enjoying the Ocean and the Sand at Westward

BY ANNE SOBLE

At about the same time all the paparazzi were focusing their lenses on the participants in a hot music video shoot in eastern Malibu last week, a celebrity of greater stature was charming and disarming surprised beachgoers and passersby at Westward Beach.
Willie G, a four-year-old giraffe with enough movie and TV commercial credits to make many a SAG member green with envy, was frolicking away on the sand last Thursday.
Trained and handled by Los Angeles animal expert Bob Dunn, Willie G was taking part in a candy commercial being shot for overseas viewing.
As a hay eater, Willie G doesn’t have to worry about providing personal testimonials for any edible products he helps to sell.
Dunn said the gregarious giraffe was born in the United States and bottle-fed from two weeks of age. He described Willie G as “friendly and curious,” and said the giraffe “enjoyed his visit to the beach.”


READY FOR HIS CLOSE-UP—Willie G is as interested in the photographer, as the photographer is interested in him. The four-year-old giraffe is an entertainment industry professional.
Photo MSN/George Hauptman