I left "Lassie" when I wanted to, and basically left the industry when I wanted to. I didn't want to be Timmy until I was 17 or 18, and that's what they wanted.
[on his continued work with children and dogs] Visiting kids in the hospital with Lassie influenced what I've done over the years. They didn't let dogs in hospitals then, but they let Timmy and Lassie in. The kids were transported.
