Searxng/Kevin DiCicco Celebrity Remembering Kevin DiCicco, the man who discovered & trained Air Bud. His story of an incredible bond with a stray golden retriever created a canine sports le... March 25, 2026 AceShowbiz - Kevin DiCicco, the owner and trainer of Buddy, the basketball-playing golden retriever who starred in the original Air Bud film, has passed away at the age of 63. His brother, Mark, confirmed that DiCicco died on Saturday while in hospice care in San Diego after battling respiratory issues and experiencing recent homelessness.