Buddy is a 1997 American family comedy drama film written and directed by Caroline Thompson, produced by Jim Henson Pictures and American Zoetrope, and released by Columbia Pictures on June 6, 1997. It starred Rene Russo as Mrs. Gertrude "Trudy" Lintz and Robbie Coltrane as her husband. The gorilla suit used for Buddy was created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.