Jimmy Fallon’s Dog (and Tonight Show Star) Gary Frick Jr. Has Died

Jimmy Fallon is mourning the loss of his pet golden retriever, Gary—a beloved part of not only his family, but also his late-night shows.

Fallon shared the news of Gary’s passing with his followers in an emotional post on X. “She was the last name we signed on every  birthday card. She was our first baby, a therapist, a pillow, a big sister, a schoolmarm, a comedian, a party girl and a rebel,” Fallon wrote in the lengthy remembrance.

The host went on to describe the impact that the loss has had on his wife and children. “Franny, Winnie, Mommy and I miss you. The house misses you,” he wrote. “The house is so quiet. The quiet is so loud. But that quiet is slowly being filled with stories about you and laughter amongst the sniffles.”

Gary was a regular part of Late Night and The Tonight Show over the years. In fact, Fallon’s show is what brought him and his beloved pet together.

Fallon first met Gary when the puppy appeared on Late Night, as he later told People. “She came out on [the show] to do a bit. I think she was a political pundit. I was having a debate with her, and she was dressed in a suit,” Fallon recalled. After the segment, Fallon decided to adopt her.

Fallon’s wife, Nancy Juvonen, convinced him to make the puppy’s character name official, despite it being a girl. With that, Gary became a welcome addition to his and his wife’s household. “We were trying to have kids at the time, so I think this was just a thing to kind of distract us while we’re working on that,” the host told People.

After adopting the pup, Fallon sharing a photo of his new pet with his fans online. “This is my new puppy. Her name is Gary,” Fallon wrote. “She’s my new best friend.”

Gary continued to be a part of Fallon’s shows, helping predict the outcomes of sporting events in “Puppy Predictors” and cuddling with celebs during the trivia game “Pup Quiz.” During The Tonight Show’s pandemic-era At Home Edition shows, Gary was again a frequent presence. In one episode, Fallon interviewed the dog. In another, the dog FaceTimed Drew Barrymore’s lizard.

“Thank you for everything. Gosh, we miss you so much,” Fallon wrote to close out his tribute. “Goodnight, Gary.”

Fallon isn’t the only late-night host who has had to pay tribute to a departed pet recently. In August, Seth Meyers announced the passing of his dog Frisbee, who had featured prominently on Late Night (and in Meyers’ rapport with Andy Samberg) over the years. In 2024, Jon Stewart delivered an emotional eulogy for his dog Dipper on The Daily Show.

Fallon’s full tribute to Gary can be read below.

She was the last name we signed on every birthday card.
She was our first baby, a therapist, a pillow, a big sister, a schoolmarm, a comedian, a party girl and a rebel. Definitely not a watchdog—she would have let burglars in and shown them where we kept the bacon and American… pic.twitter.com/Row2Gloa1G

— Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) October 20, 2025