Modern Family dog Stella dies suddenly as final season wraps production

Stella the dog from Modern Family has died. 

The beloved pet pooch of the Pritchett-Delgado family was played by French bulldog Beatrice, but just as the final season has wrapped filming, she has sadly passed away.

Beatrice starred on the series from its fourth season.

Sad loss: Stella the dog from Modern Family has died. She was the beloved pet of Jay Pritchett, played by Ed O’Neill, and was introduced in the episode Good Cop Bad Dog

Stella was first introduced in season two, but was played by another dog at the time. Beatrice then took over in 2012.

She was the beloved pet of Jay Pritchett, played by Ed O’Neill, and was introduced in the episode Good Cop Bad Dog.

She was the dog of a man named Guillermo, played by Mary Poppins Returns star Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was an inventor.

In the episode, Jay convinced him to ditch his invention idea and return to school, with Guillermo giving Stella to the family as a result.

Goodbye Stella: The beloved pet pooch of the Pritchett-Delgado family was played by French bulldog Beatrice, but just as the final season has wrapped filming, she has sadly passed away

Goodbye Stella: The beloved pet pooch of the Pritchett-Delgado family was played by French bulldog Beatrice, but just as the final season has wrapped filming, she has sadly passed away

Spot the difference: Brigitte (L) starred on the show from season two
Spot the difference: Beatrice took her place in season four

Spot the difference: Brigitte (L) starred on the show from season two but Beatrice (R) took her place in season four

Not a fan of Stella at first, Jay wanted to get rid of her but eventually came around – ending up becoming besotted.

Before long, Jay was seen fawning over Stella more than his wife Gloria [Sofía Vergara], leading to much of the comedy between the duo.

Beatrice’s agency had the following blurb about the pooch on their website: ‘You probably know Beatrice as “Stella” from Modern Family.

Fond memories: Devastated Modern Family fans flocked to Twitter to mourn the loss of the pooch, admitting they're 'not handling it well' and insisting that this is just another blow for the already-difficult 2020

Fond memories: Devastated Modern Family fans flocked to Twitter to mourn the loss of the pooch, admitting they’re ‘not handling it well’ and insisting that this is just another blow for the already-difficult 2020

‘She’s mastered a wide range of behaviors and is always looking to put her skills to the test. She even knows how to skateboard!’

Devastated Modern Family fans flocked to Twitter to mourn the loss of the pooch, admitting they’re ‘not handling it well’ and insisting that this is just another blow for the already-difficult 2020.

Beatrice’s casting on the show was somewhat drama-filled, after the producers came to blows with the previous Stella.

Swan song: The show has recently wrapped shooting season 11

Swan song: The show has recently wrapped shooting season 11

Two of a kind: Not a fan of Stella at first, Jay wanted to get rid of her but eventually came around - ending up becoming besotted

Two of a kind: Not a fan of Stella at first, Jay wanted to get rid of her but eventually came around – ending up becoming besotted

The pet had been portrayed by a dog called Brigitte who was known off-stage to be ‘best friends’ with Beatrice, who was used as her understudy.

Brigitte was a puppy when she first joined the cast and was untrained; but producers sent her to formal dog actor training between seasons two and three.

But in July 2012 there was a dispute between the owner of Brigitte and the animal agency that hired her, and she was axed from the role.

This was when Beatrice took over full-time.

Comedy gold: Before long, Jay was seen fawning over Stella more than his wife Gloria [Sofía Vergara], leading to much of the comedy between the duo

Comedy gold: Before long, Jay was seen fawning over Stella more than his wife Gloria [Sofía Vergara], leading to much of the comedy between the duo

Legend: Stella the dog has been described by TV critics as the most famous TV dog since the iconic Jack Russell from Frasier, Eddie

Legend: Stella the dog has been described by TV critics as the most famous TV dog since the iconic Jack Russell from Frasier, Eddie

Brigitte’s owner could not seek any legal damages against the agency because there was no formal contract in place with Modern Family.

Stella the dog has been described by TV critics as the most famous TV dog since the iconic Jack Russell from Frasier, Eddie.

Eddie was similarly replaced midway through the sitcom’s 11 seasons. He was initially played by a dog called Moose and then replaced by Moose’s son Enzo.

Moose retired from acting in 2000, with Enzo taking over the role for Frasier’s eighth season and beyond.

Moose died in 2006 and Enzo died in 2010.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk