Who is Diefenbaker?

The Diefenbaker Saga

Many fans have noticed that Diefenbaker, Fraser's loyal and four-footed donut-snatching companion, has undergone several incarnations during the life of the series. Despite the fact that Dief was presented as a wolf-hybrid on the series, the Diefs have all been portrayed by a succession of many Siberian Huskies, both male and female. Besides some obvious anatomical differences, ahem, female Huskies also have denser fur around their face.

And here's the low-down on the players....

NEWMAN
(Pilot Movie)?

Newman, the original Dief
Copyright CBS-TV Stats: Named after movie star Paul Newman, as both have striking blue eyes.
Profile: Newman was the first Diefenbaker, seen only in the Pilot movie. His large, shaggy form appeared more wolf-like to many fans of the series. However, stardom did not seem in the cards for this canine performer. When the show premiered, he was nowhere in sight. This wasn't because the dog was demanding a trailer-load of kibbles every day, it was because he resided in California, and production took place in Toronto.
Stunts: May have done his own, but we don't know.
Breeding: Unknown, but he is said to be a mixed breed.
Where is he now: Unknown.

FRANKIE & MAX
(Pilot Movie)?

No Image Available
Profile: Frankie and Max are reported to be the original Diefenbaker in the pilot movie according to Frankie's former owner, Stacey. Both dogs retired about 6 months after filming the pilot.
Stunts: May have done their own, but we don't know.
Breeding: Samoyed-wolf mix. Frankie had blue eyes and Max had brown.
Where are they now: Frankie passed away around 1999 from cancer. Max went on to be owned by Helen Hunt.

LINCOLN
(Seasons 1 & 2)

Lincoln
Copyright CBS-TV Stats: Second of the Diefs; this purebred Siberian Husky had a medium red and white coat.
Profile: Lincoln portrayed the most popular Diefenbaker of the series. When the series was resurrected for a new (3rd/4th) season, Lincoln seemed to be up for the running to reprise his role. Alas, he was 'fired' by the new executive producer, Paul Gross, and replaced by the new dog Draco. (Full Biography)
Stunts: Because Lincoln was only eight months old when he was hired, he was too young to do certain stunts. His bones were still growing, and he could have been injured. Instead, Chinook and Kaery-Ann (who also acted) did the stunts until Lincoln could do most of them. Chinook did that incredible 10' chain-fence jump in the episode "Free Willie."
Breeding: Unknown.
Where is he now: Retired, and happily enjoying his free time at home with trainer Ted Haggis.

DRACO
(Seasons 3 & 4)

Draco
Copyright Alliance Stats: Seven months old when he joined the show, he is a purebred Siberian husky with a red and white coat, and was smaller than Lincoln.
Profile: An undeniably cute canine, he garnered his own legion of fans when he took over the role of Dief in the third and fourth seasons of the series. Draco's been presented to the press as an eager worker. (Full Biography)
Stunts: Draco's sister, Cinder, did many of the stunts.
Breeding: Unknown, but he's with animal trainer Rick Parker in Ontario.
Where is he now: Toronto. Draco has reportedly appeared in the series Twitch City which also stars former due South alum Callum Keith Rennie.

AND THE REST
(Seasons 1 & 2)

Chinook: He was Lincoln's main stunt double for several episodes in the first season and part of the Pilot movie. His work was limited to stunts as his facial features were notably different - a shorter nose and more fur around the neck. Chinook was also a mixed breed, not pure Siberian husky.

The following "Diefenbakers" are all purebred Siberian Huskies from the KeeKaWa Kennels. One way to tell the difference between them and the 'real' Dief (Lincoln) is a slight difference in fur around the neck, and a smaller physical stature.

Kaery-Anne
Reprinted with permission
Copyright KeeKaWa Kennels Kaery-Anne: (March 21, 1990 - August 25, 2000) She performed some stunts for Lincoln in the first season but also performed (acted) as Dief, and was his primary photo double. In one episode in which Kaery-Anne portrayed Dief, she had to ascend the stairs in the police station. A police officer was sitting on a steps eating a MacDonald's hamburger and Kaery-Anne went straight past. For Kaery-Anne, this was a great feat, as she has been referred to as a 'chow-hound.' Her coat color was the same as Lincoln's, a medium red and white.
MacKenzie King: Kaery-Anne's daughter, who was the spitting image of her mother. She grew up to help portray Diefenbaker in some scenes (along with Lincoln and Kaery-Anne). Mackenzie doubled for Dief on the raft along with Fraser and Ray at the end of "North." When she was a pup, she portrayed 'Sunshine,' one of Dief's and Maggie's offspring, in "The Wild Bunch."

Kristy
Kristy
Reprinted with permission
Copyright KeeKaWa Kennels Kristy: A gray and white puppy who portrayed Dief, as a pup, in a 'nightmare' scene in "The Edge."
Siku: Was one of the skijoring dogs in a nightmare sequence in "The Edge."
Ch. Innisfree's Keeley Walker CD (Keeley): Portrayed Maggie, Dief's love interest in "The Wild Bunch."
(Future) Ch. Fraser: A young black and white male pup, he portrayed 'Buster,' one of Dief's and Maggie's pups in "The Wild Bunch."

STIFFY
(Seasons 1 - 4)

Stiffy
Not the real Stiffy. Stats: Age unknown, white in color.
Profile: The most docile Dief of the bunch. This average-sized white faux Husky/wolf-hybrid look-alike had a silent demeanor and glassy eyes, quite possibly because he was a dog dummy. A fake. A huge stuffed animal. For more information please see the Mechanical Dog Gallery.
Stunts: 'Stiffy' has been seen from time to time, pulling stunt duty for the real dogs in scenes which were too dangerous for any live animal to attempt - such as parachuting out of a plane in "Call of the Wild," or riding 'side saddle' in a fast-moving vehicle in "All the Queen's Horses."
Breeding: More like 'where was he manufactured?' Unknown.
Where is he now: Hopefully staying away from moths...

Back to Lincoln's Bio | Back to Draco's Bio
Back to William & Elyse's Due South Page

Text copyright 1999 by Elyse Dickenson.
Last updated: September 06, 2007
Special thanks to Kathy Slevin and KeeKaWa Kennels for their assistance.

This page may be reprinted for personal reading use only.
Any other uses of this page are strictly prohibited without the specific written consent of the author.

	Chinook: He was Lincoln's main stunt double for several episodes in the first season and part of the Pilot movie. His work was limited to stunts as his facial features were notably different - a shorter nose and more fur around the neck. Chinook was also a mixed breed, not pure Siberian husky.
	The following "Diefenbakers" are all purebred Siberian Huskies from the KeeKaWa Kennels. One way to tell the difference between them and the 'real' Dief (Lincoln) is a slight difference in fur around the neck, and a smaller physical stature.
Kaery-Anne Reprinted with permission Copyright KeeKaWa Kennels	Kaery-Anne: (March 21, 1990 - August 25, 2000) She performed some stunts for Lincoln in the first season but also performed (acted) as Dief, and was his primary photo double. In one episode in which Kaery-Anne portrayed Dief, she had to ascend the stairs in the police station. A police officer was sitting on a steps eating a MacDonald's hamburger and Kaery-Anne went straight past. For Kaery-Anne, this was a great feat, as she has been referred to as a 'chow-hound.' Her coat color was the same as Lincoln's, a medium red and white. MacKenzie King: Kaery-Anne's daughter, who was the spitting image of her mother. She grew up to help portray Diefenbaker in some scenes (along with Lincoln and Kaery-Anne). Mackenzie doubled for Dief on the raft along with Fraser and Ray at the end of "North." When she was a pup, she portrayed 'Sunshine,' one of Dief's and Maggie's offspring, in "The Wild Bunch."
Kristy Reprinted with permission Copyright KeeKaWa Kennels	Kristy: A gray and white puppy who portrayed Dief, as a pup, in a 'nightmare' scene in "The Edge." Siku: Was one of the skijoring dogs in a nightmare sequence in "The Edge." Ch. Innisfree's Keeley Walker CD (Keeley): Portrayed Maggie, Dief's love interest in "The Wild Bunch." (Future) Ch. Fraser: A young black and white male pup, he portrayed 'Buster,' one of Dief's and Maggie's pups in "The Wild Bunch."