Odie
| Odie | |
|---|---|
 Odie as he appears in the comic strip | |
| Species | Beagle (most media) / Dachshund (live-action) |
| Gender | Male |
| Created by | Jim Davis |
| First appearance | August 8, 1978 |
| Voiced by | Gregg Berger (most animated) Harvey Guillen (2024) |
| Owner | Lyman (originally) Jon Arbuckle (currently) |
Odie is a fictional dog in the comic strip Garfield by Jim Davis. He is a yellow-furred, brown-eared beagle who is described by Garfieldas a "purebred clown." Odie resides with Jon Arbuckle and Garfield and is, at times, Garfield's best friend.
Character
The name "Odie" came from a commercial written by Davis, which featured "Odie the Village Idiot." Davis liked the name and reused it. His birthday is August 8, likely as a nod to his debut date.
Odie's main characteristic is his general "lack of intelligence and naivete," which allows for Garfield to triumph over him in their prankings. However, in "one glimpse at Odie's secret life," the dog is shown to be much more sophisticated when alone, and Davis lets "Odie get Garfield back every few months."
While Garfield's "playful mistreatment" of Odie is a persistent element of the comic, some strips make it clear that "deep down he knows he loves the little scamp." In Here Comes Garfield, when Odie is captured by the dogcatcher, Garfield breaks down in tearful flashbacks and risks everything to rescue him.
Odie has been considered a "much-loved," "lovable and adorable" and "fan-favourite" character. Jessica Jalali from Screen Rant saw in Odie and Garfield "an iconic duo that made it hard to separate one from the other."
History in the Strip
Odie first appeared in the strip on August 8, 1978, less than two months after the strip's debut. He was originally owned by Lyman, Jon's roommate, who brought Odie with him when he moved in. After Lyman was phased out of the strip in 1983, Odie's ownership was quietly transferred to Jon.
Garfield's daily ritual of kicking Odie off the table became one of the strip's most iconic running gags. Garfield once described Odie as "honest, true blue, and decent, and not even smart enough to steal."
Appearance
Odie is typically depicted as a yellow dog with brown floppy ears and a large tongue that frequently hangs out of his mouth. He walks on all four legs, in contrast to Garfield's bipedal movement. His design has remained relatively consistent throughout the strip's history.
In the live-action films (2004, 2006), Odie was portrayed as a dachshund. In The Garfield Movie (2024), he returned to a design more consistent with his animated appearances.
In Other Media
In most of his animated appearances, Odie is voiced by Gregg Berger. In The Garfield Movie (2024), he is voiced by Harvey Guillen.
Odie appears in all major Garfield animated series including Garfield and Friends (1988 to 1994) and The Garfield Show (2009 to 2016).
References
- Davis, Jim (2005). Odie Unleashed!: Garfield Lets the Dog Out. Ballantine Books.
- Jalali, Jessica (October 20, 2023). "10 Funniest Garfield Comics Starring Odie". Screen Rant.
- "List of Garfield characters". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026.