If you have seen the 1990 film Dances With Wolves, you know that it stars Kevin Costner, has animals in almost every scene, and includes a lot of dialogue in the Lakota language.

But do you know about the Oreos?

One of the most memorable moments centers around a massive buffalo stampede. The spectacular scene was accomplished with the help of 3,500 buffalo and 23 artificial animals. The real animals ran on their own legs. Their mechanical counterparts moved on tracks or were tossed out of the back of a truck, giving the appearance of falling to the ground.

Some shots could not be faked with artificial animals, however. For the most dramatic footage, the producers turned to a four-legged superstar named Cody and the world’s best-selling cookie.

Cody was a buffalo named after his place of birth, Cody, Wyoming. He was rejected at birth by his mother. A local rancher named Mike Fogle took the calf home, fed him from a bottle, and let him stay in his house. Along the way, Fogle learned that Cody had a special fondness for Oreo cookies. He used the treats to train Cody to respond to commands.

Fogle was showing Cody off at the Minnesota State Fair when he was spotted by a Hollywood agent. This was Cody’s big break, resulting in him becoming a part of the cast of Dances With Wolves.

Cody’s most dramatic scene occurs when he charges at a young girl, only to be shot dead before he can reach her. As depicted in the movie, Cody appears to be enraged as he charges, with his only thoughts being of death and destruction. In reality, he bore no malice toward anyone. He was just in a hurry to grab a quick snack.

His handler said, “You could be 100 yards away, pull out an Oreo, and he’d take off like a bullet straight for you.” That’s what is going on in the famous scene. While viewers sat on the edges of their seats, waiting to see if the girl would meet a tragic end, little did they realize that the buffalo simply had the munchies.

Cody’s stardom was instantaneous. He went on to star in several commercials and was beloved by tourists of all ages. He made personal appearances in schools and nursing homes throughout the Midwestern United States.

Cody died at the age of 19 — the upper end of a typical buffalo lifespan — in 2006. He was buried in Minnesota. He left this world with the love and affection of countless fans. He also took a package of Oreos to his grave and was buried with them.

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