His son Brandon Camp confirmed the news to EW.
When he decided to make the original movie, he had no experience working in Hollywood.
Camp finished the movie but had trouble drumming up interest.
Joe Camp in 2018.David Livingston/Getty
“It was turned down by every studio in Hollywood,” hesaid in a 2023 interview.
“When we came back from Hollywood, I was in the dumps.
I was really down low, because what are we going to do?
We can throw it in the trash or figure it out.”
David Livingston/Getty
He ultimately released it himself in 1974, forming a company to distribute the film independently.
“Almost a year later, it was the number three picture of the summer,” he said.
MoreBenjimovies and shows followed, as well as other films about dogs, includingOh!
Heavenly Dog, which starredChevy Chaseas a detective reincarnated as a dog.
Camp won an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program in 1980 forBenji at Work.
He also contributed to Netflix’s 2018Benjireboot, which was directed by his son Brandon.
Clips from Disney’sLady and the Trampsparked a conversation.
“She went to bed, and I stayed up to read.
Our little Yorkshire terrier, whose name was Benji, he stayed up with me.
I got intrigued watching his expression on things.”
The dog’s looking at me like, ‘Have you lost your mind?’
You could read that in his face.
So I went to bed knowing that dogs do talk."
The next morning, Camp wrote the complete treatment forBenji.
