Perry, the beloved real-life stand-in for the “Shrek” donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy, has died. He was 30. The donkey’s handlers announced his passing on Instagram, detailing that it was from an incurable hoof disease.

Perry, a miniature donkey who lived in Palo Alto, California, was euthanized Thursday after suffering from a painful and debilitating hoof disease.

Donkey may not have made waffles in the morning — that last part in Eddie Murphy’s voice — without the help of Perry the Donkey. According to a report from the New York Times, Perry the Donkey, who served as the reference for the Eddie Murphy-voiced character in ‘Shrek,

"I can attest that many of Donkey’s classic head tilts, eye rolls and bouncy trots were straight from Perry," the animal's handler, Jenny Kiratli, tells PEOPLE

Born as Pericles in New York City in 1994, Perry was known for his playful and talkative nature. He became the ideal inspiration for Donkey, the character voiced by Eddie Murphy in the Shrek films. Perry’s energetic personality and charm were reflected in the animated character,

A REAL-life donkey that inspired Eddie Murphy’s character in Shrek has died aged 30. Born in New York in 1994, Perry rose to fame after animators modelled the Donkey character in the

Known as the inspiration for Donkey in the 2001 animated classic Shrek, Perry was a beloved staple in the Palo Alto community

Perry, the donkey who inspired Eddie Murphy's character in the movie Shrek, passed away at the age of 30, leaving fans heartbroken.