Having a dog as a pet can be one of the most heartwarming experiences. They offer unwavering loyalty and unconditional love, no matter who you are. Whether you’re a famous Hollywood star or an everyday person, that bond is priceless.

Many celebrities feel just as devastated as anyone when their beloved pets pass away. Remembering the good times and expressing those emotions in writing can be healing.

That’s exactly what legendary actor Jimmy Stewart did. He wrote a heartfelt poem about his dog Beau and read it on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. This touching moment has since become a television classic, resonating with anyone who has ever loved a dog.

Jimmy Stewart, known for iconic films like It’s a Wonderful Life, Rear Window, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, appeared on The Tonight Show in 1981 when he was 73 years old.

He informed host Johnny Carson that he wanted to read a poem titled “Beau,” named after his golden retriever.

Initially, the poem seemed to be a light-hearted piece, aligning with the show’s comedic tone. Stewart garnered laughs with humorous lines about Beau’s stubborn habits.

“He never came to me when I would call, unless I had a tennis ball… or he felt like it,” Stewart recited. “But mostly, he didn’t come at all. He never learned to heel or sit or stay, he did things his way.”

Despite Beau’s often mischievous nature, Stewart admitted that he was still a joy to have around: “Discipline wasn’t his bag. But when you were with him, things sure didn’t drag.”

As the poem progressed, it moved beyond humor to reveal a more emotional side. Stewart talked about serene evenings by the fire and Beau’s companionship in their bed, showing an emotional depth that resonated deeply with the audience.

He recited:

And there were nights when I’d feel this stare

And I’d wake up and he’d be sitting there

And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.

And sometimes I’d feel him sigh and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night

And he would have this fear

Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,

And he’d be glad to have me near.

Stewart then revealed that Beau had passed away, his eyes welling up with tears as the audience sat in reflective silence.

He continued:

And there are nights when I think I feel that stare

And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair

But he’s not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn’t so,

I’ll always love a dog named Beau.

Watch the classic TV moment here:

Stewart’s reading became one of the most memorable moments on The Tonight Show. It frequently appears in “best-of” collections from Johnny Carson’s era and has garnered over 4 million views on YouTube.

The poem was so moving that even Carson shed a tear. Longtime sidekick Ed McMahon described it as one of the rare occasions when Carson was visibly emotional on air.

“Johnny was moved by the way Jimmy Stewart delivered it,” McMahon told Today in 2005. “Jimmy was a blend of great actor and great person. Both Johnny and I were in tears. Just a couple of maudlin mutt mourners.”

Jimmy Stewart’s love for golden retrievers was well-known.

“I suppose the truth is that I’d rather have a happy dog than a trained one,” Stewart once said, according to Psychology Today. “My dogs have never been good at things like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ or even ‘come’… I don’t even mind it when the dogs jump up.”

While filming a movie in Arizona, Stewart received heartbreaking news: Beau was dying. He immediately took a break from filming to be with Beau in his final moments, as recounted in the book Why We Love the Dogs We Do.

“I can’t just tell you to put him to sleep like this,” Stewart reportedly said. “Not over the phone—not without seeing him. You keep him alive and I’ll be there.”

Stewart stayed by Beau’s side as the vets euthanized him, and he openly wept afterward. This poignant experience later inspired the writing of his poem.

“After [Beau] died, there were many nights when I felt like he was getting into bed beside me, and I would reach out to pat his head,” Stewart later recalled. “The feeling was so vivid that I wrote a poem about it and how much it hurt to realize that he wasn’t going to be there anymore.”

Stewart eventually published “Beau” in his book Jimmy Stewart and his Poems.

What a beautiful, heartfelt poem by the great Jimmy Stewart. Anyone who has ever loved and lost a dog can deeply relate to his words.

Share this touching poem if you love dogs.