Perry, the Bay Area donkey who was the inspiration behind the beloved character in the DreamWorks' 2001 film "Sherk," died at the age of 30.

The donkey arrived in Stanford in the 1990s to serve as an emotional support animal for polo ponies but rose to fame when he modeled for animators who designed the “Shrek” character Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy.

Until Thursday, the Bay Area was home to what may very well have been the world’s most famous donkey. Perry, a Jerusalem donkey born in New York City in 1994, died at the age of 30. The donkey arrived in Stanford in the 1990s to serve as an emotional support animal for polo ponies but rose to fame when he modeled for animators who designed the “Shrek” character Donkey,