Alabama is an unlikely place to find reindeer and an even more unlikely spot for a reindeer to become a movie star. But in 1989, the improbably occurred and a reindeer named Boo went from living on a Huntsville farm to starring in the 1989 Christmas film “Prancer.”
In the heartwarming family film, a little girl finds an injured reindeer and nurses it back to health. So how did a reindeer who went from Alaska to an air-conditioned barn in Huntsville wind up starring in a movie filmed in Indiana? Here’s the story.
Boo, a reindeer from Huntsville, Ala., portrayed the title character in 1989's "Prancer." Boo is shown with costar Rebecca Harrell. Boo died in 1996. (Promotion Photo | AL.com File)
Boo was 5 years old when she was purchased, along with others from her herd, by Huntsville rancher Bobby Baldwin. She was named “Boo” because of her skittish nature. The herd was housed in an air-conditioned barn to simulate their native Alaska and appeared at numerous events at malls and other venues during the holiday season.
In 1987, when Boo was 15 years old, Baldwin came across an advertisement requesting reindeer to audition for a Christmas movie. He decided to take seven reindeer to the audition, including Boo, who Baldwin knew would keep her antlers for the required time during filming from January to March. Despite her skittish nature, Boo shone. Plus, she had a rapport with the film’s young star, Rebecca Harrell.
Boo got the role of Prancer and was sent for filming in LaPorte, Ind. She starred alongside veteran actors Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman and Abe Vigoda in the film. When the movie was released Nov. 17, 1989, Boo was at the premiere. After that, she made numerous promotional appearances nationwide for Orion Pictures.
The famous reindeer returned to her farm in Huntsville to live out her life. Although the average reindeer lives 17 years, Boo lived in comfort to the ripe old age of 22, dying in 1996. But she lives on in the beloved film, which typically airs on TV each year.