Mr. Piffles dead at 16: Beloved ‘AGT’ dog was Piff the Magic Dragon’s assistant
“America’s Got Talent” fans are in a state of mourning as one of their favorite non-human contestants, Mr. Piffles, is dead at age 16. The beloved pooch served as the assistant to Piff the Magic Dragon for more than a decade. Mr. Piffles went to doggy heaven on Nov. 13, 2024.
Mr. Piffles’ trusty human announced the sad news on social media. “For over 15 years I’ve had the privilege and the pleasure of being upstaged and outshone night after night by that little ball of fluffy indifference,” said Piff the Magic Dragon, whose real name is John van der Put. “He came into my life when I had nothing, and set me on the path to a career I could only dream of. In the beginning, I may have rescued him, but in the end, he rescued me. I love you so much Mr Piffles. #RIPiffles.”
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The British magician and his cute chihuahua first stepped foot on the “AGT” stage during Season 10 in 2015. Piff and Piffles advanced to the next round based on the votes of panelists Howard Stern, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel, which is where special guest judge Neil Patrick Harris pushed the Golden Buzzer and sent the act straight through to the live shows (watch below).
The duo finished that season in the top 10, but they remained a part of the reality TV show through the years with frequent guest appearances. Piff the Magic Dragon returned as a contestant in January 2024 for the spin-off series “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League,” where he was a part of Heidi Klum‘s team. He was eliminated in the qualifiers round.
Soon after leaving “America’s Got Talent,” Piff the Magic Dragon and Mr. Piffles set up shop on the Las Vegas Strip with their own residency at The Flamingo. The casino has honored the late puppy with a new fountain, in which he has his leg up and he appears to be urinating into the water below. Click here to buy tickets to his Las Vegas show.
Other notable “AGT” contestants to pass away through the years include winner Neal E. Boyd, singer Jane Kristen Marczewski (aka Nightbirde), and comedian Frances Lee Strong (aka Grandma Lee). We remember all of them and more in our photo gallery below.
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