Bandit Heeler

Bandit was born on 25 October 1978 and he is 46 years old, the younger brother of Radley Heeler who is 49 years old{{Cite episode|title=Double Babysitter|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep91|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=6 November 2020|season=2|number=25}} and the older brother of Stripe Heeler,{{Cite episode|title=Squash|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep56|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=20 March 2020|season=2|number=4}} all of whom are sons of Bob and Chris Heeler.{{Cite episode|title=Fairytale|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep130|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=16 December 2021|season=3|number=26}} He claims that he first met his wife Chilli while on holiday as a child, but Chilli has no memory of this meeting and believes that she and Bandit first met at a party in London.{{Cite episode|title=The Show|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep71|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=4 April 2020|season=2|number=19}}{{Cite episode|title=Magic Xylophone|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep1|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=1 October 2018|season=1|number=1}}

Bandit and Chilli's first child, Bluey, was born sometime later; their second child, Bingo, was born two years after Bluey.{{Cite episode |title=Yoga Ball |episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep16 |series=Bluey |series-link=Bluey (TV series) |network=ABC |airdate=16 October 2018 |season=1 |number=16}} At an unknown point, Bandit and Chilli had a miscarriage.

Years later, Bandit received a job offer that would give him better pay, but would require him and his family to move out of Queensland. Believing this would allow him to give his daughters a better life, he put the house up for sale. Eventually, Bandit, coming to the realisation that his family did not want to move and having been told the buyers pulled out, changed his mind and withdrew the house from sale.{{Cite episode|title=The Sign|episode-link=The Sign (Bluey)|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=14 April 2024|season=3|number=49}}

Much of the series' humour revolves around his relationship with his daughters, who he continually implores to come up with new games to play with him.{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Simon |date=26 March 2019 |title=Fun tales ABC Kids series Bluey lapped up |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/tv/fun-tales-abc-kids-series-bluey-lapped-up-ng-b881147160z |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326134315/https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/tv/fun-tales-abc-kids-series-bluey-lapped-up-ng-b881147160z |archive-date=26 March 2019 |access-date=19 April 2019 |website=PerthNow |publisher=Seven West Media}} He enjoys watching cricket{{Cite episode|title=Horsey Ride|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep9|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=9 October 2018|season=1|number=9}}{{Cite episode|title=The Weekend|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep6|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=6 October 2018|season=1|number=6}} and playing squash and touch football.{{Cite episode |title=Fruitbat |episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep8 |series=Bluey |series-link=Bluey (TV series) |network=ABC |airdate=8 October 2018 |season=1 |number=8}}

He has a habit of making "dad jokes" in front of his children.{{Cite episode |title=The Creek |episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep29 |series=Bluey |series-link=Bluey (TV series) |network=ABC |airdate=3 April 2019 |season=1 |number=29}}{{Cite episode|title=The Pool|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep22|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=22 October 2018|season=1|number=22}}{{Cite episode |title=Family Meeting |episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep127 |series=Bluey |series-link=Bluey (TV series) |network=ABC |airdate=13 December 2021 |season=3 |number=23}}{{Cite episode|title=Turtleboy|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep134|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=16 June 2022|season=3|number=30}} He often is seen reading the newspaper and has a habit of using child-friendly expletives, most of which relate to food.{{Cite episode|title=Daddy Robot|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep4|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=4 October 2018|season=1|number=4}}{{Cite episode|title=Taxi|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep25|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=25 October 2018|season=1|number=25}}{{Cite episode |title=Tickle Crabs |episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep72 |series=Bluey |series-link=Bluey (TV series) |network=ABC |airdate=5 April 2020 |season=2 |number=20}}{{Cite episode|title=Duck Cake|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep96|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=7 December 2021|season=2|number=44}}{{Cite episode|title=Smoochy Kiss|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep96|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=21 June 2022|season=3|number=35}}{{Cite episode|title=Road Trip|episode-link=List of Bluey episodes#ep98|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=13 November 2020|season=2|number=46}} He is frequently seen doing housework{{Cite web |last=Hiatt |first=Bethany |date=5 March 2019 |title=Bluey, the cartoon pup your kids just can't get enough of |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/bluey-the-cartoon-pup-your-kids-just-cant-get-enough-of-ng-b881124691z |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305010137/https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/bluey-the-cartoon-pup-your-kids-just-cant-get-enough-of-ng-b881124691z |archive-date=5 March 2019 |access-date=20 April 2019 |website=The West Australian |publisher=Seven West Media}} and has a doctorate in archaeology.{{Cite episode|title=Archaeology|series=Bluey|series-link=Bluey (TV series)|network=ABC|airdate=1 April 2022}}

Bandit was based on Brumm's own life; he modeled the character after a Blue Heeler owned by a friend of his father, and, as with the character, was the middle child in his family tree. The character's occupation was partly influenced by one of his brothers, Adam, who was an archeologist in his own right,{{Cite web |last=Dow |first=Steve |date=11 April 2020 |title=Bluey creator Joe Brumm's dog days |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/television/2020/04/11/bluey-creator-joe-brumms-dog-days/15865272009678 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410161300/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/television/2020/04/11/bluey-creator-joe-brumms-dog-days/15865272009678 |archive-date=10 April 2020 |access-date=11 April 2020 |website=The Saturday Paper |publisher=Schwartz Publishing}} and had been involved in the discovery of fossilised remains of Homo floresiensis,{{cite journal|last1=Sutikna|first1=Thomas|last2=Tocheri|first2=Matthew W.|last3=Morwood|first3=Michael J.|last4=Saptomo|first4=E. Wahyu|last5=Jatmiko|last6=Awe|first6=Rokus Due|last7=Wasisto|first7=Sri|last8=Westaway|first8=Kira E.|last9=Aubert|first9=Maxime|last10=Li|first10=Bo|last11=Zhao|first11=Jian-xin|last12=Storey|first12=Michael|last13=Alloway|first13=Brent V.|last14=Morley|first14=Mike W.|last15=Meijer|first15=Hanneke J. M.|last16=van den Bergh|first16=Gerrit D.|last17=Grün|first17=Rainer|last18=Dosseto|first18=Anthony|last19=Brumm|first19=Adam|last20=Jungers|first20=William L.|last21=Roberts|first21=Richard G.|title=Revised stratigraphy and chronology for Homo floresiensis at Liang Bua in Indonesia|journal=Nature|date=30 March 2016|volume=532|issue=7599|pages=366–369|doi=10.1038/nature17179|pmid=27027286|bibcode=2016Natur.532..366S|s2cid=4469009|url=https://ro.uow.edu.au/smhpapers/3778}} which he nicknamed "The Hobbit" at a Queensland university. The Heelers, including Bandit, are presented as a nuclear family, with him serving as one of the show's two working parents (his wife Chilli is employed as an airport security guard).{{Cite web |last=Reiha |first=Amy |date=4 September 2018 |title=Bluey set to nuzzle her way into the hearts of Aussie preschoolers this October |url=https://tv.press.abc.net.au/bluey-set-to-nuzzle-her-way-into-the-hearts-of-aussie-preschoolers-this-october |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228194422/https://tv.press.abc.net.au/bluey-set-to-nuzzle-her-way-into-the-hearts-of-aussie-preschoolers-this-october |archive-date=28 February 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=ABC TV Publicity |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} Bandit's middle name, Custard, originates from the band of the same name, of which his voice actor David McCormack is a part.

In all English dubs of the series, Bandit is voiced by Australian performer/musician David McCormack, who was initially approached to read what he assumed would be merely "a couple of lines", through his Sonar Sounds studio—which specialises in television and film soundtracks—only to voice the character for the entirety of the pilot. McCormack, who was raised in Brisbane (where Bluey is based), is a noted alternative rock musician (his bands include Custard, a mainstay of the Australian indie scene, which Bandit's middle name would be taken from) and soundtrack composer for a number of Australian Broadcasting Corporation shows, including Redfern Now. McCormack performs his voice work for the series remotely in Sydney, and his voice recordings are then sent to the production company in Brisbane. He does not hear any other voice actors or view footage while recording, and does not alter his own voice to produce Bandit's dialogue{{Cite web |last=Stafford |first=Andrew |date=16 May 2019 |title=Custard's Dave McCormack on voicing Bluey's dad: 'I'm popular at school drop-off time' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/16/custards-dave-mccormack-on-voicing-blueys-dad-im-popular-at-school-drop-off-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604200116/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/16/custards-dave-mccormack-on-voicing-blueys-dad-im-popular-at-school-drop-off-time |archive-date=4 June 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |title=The Bluey phenomenon: Bandit Heeler voice actor reveals all about playing arguably the world's greatest dad |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-bluey-phenomenon-bandit-heeler-voice-actor-reveals-all-about-playing-arguably-the-worlds-greatest-dad-12660182 |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Sky News |language=en}} (notwithstanding any voices Bandit makes up when he plays characters within some of his daughters' games).

Bandit has appeared in most of the episodes of Bluey that have aired during its run, and has appeared in most merchandise related to the series. He was the subject of three books, My Dad is Awesome,{{cite web|url=https://www.penguin.com.au/books/bluey-my-dad-is-awesome-9781760899400|title=Bluey: My Dad is Awesome|publisher=Penguin|last=|first=|access-date=18 June 2020}} The Big Blue Guy's Book of Dad Goals,{{cite web|url=https://www.penguin.com.au/books/bluey-the-big-blue-guys-book-of-dad-goals-9781761342226 |title=Bluey: The Big Blue Guy's Book of Dad Goals |publisher=Penguin|last=|first=|access-date=7 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407070611/https://www.penguin.com.au/books/bluey-the-big-blue-guys-book-of-dad-goals-9781761342226|archive-date=7 April 2023|url-status=live}} and an entry in the Bluey: Little Library series.{{cite web|url=https://www.penguin.com.au/books/bluey-little-library-9780143778912|title=Bluey: Little Library|publisher=Penguin|access-date=4 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604063225/https://www.penguin.com.au/books/bluey-little-library-9780143778912|archive-date=4 June 2022|url-status=live}} He also appears in the stage show Bluey's Big Play{{Cite web |date=15 November 2019 |title=Beloved Bluey hits the road |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/theatre/beloved-bluey-hits-the-road-ng-b881381445z |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116063547/https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/theatre/beloved-bluey-hits-the-road-ng-b881381445z |archive-date=16 November 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=The West Australian |publisher=Seven West Media}}{{Cite web |last=Leeson |first=Josh |date=14 November 2019 |title=Hit ABC Kids show Bluey announces live stage show for 2020 |url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6491759/abc-kids-cartoon-bluey-off-the-leash-and-heading-on-tour/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116063550/https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6491759/abc-kids-cartoon-bluey-off-the-leash-and-heading-on-tour/ |archive-date=16 November 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=The Newcastle Herald |publisher=Australian Community Media}}{{Cite web |last=James |first=Faye |date=30 March 2020 |title=Bluey's Big Play rescheduled |url=https://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/entertainment/celebrity-news/blueys-big-play-rescheduled/news-story/fc7acb29a5b412eb6a78a34f7418ac99 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001052926/https://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/entertainment/celebrity-news/blueys-big-play-rescheduled/news-story/fc7acb29a5b412eb6a78a34f7418ac99?nk=64d24dfbf1af77378fe7e4e9d123a63a-1601530166 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |access-date=1 April 2020 |website=Kidspot |publisher=News Pty Ltd.}}{{Cite web |last=Kanapathippillai |first=Julia |date=26 November 2020 |title=Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show heads to Canberra Theatre Centre |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7030017/bluey-is-on-her-way-to-canberra/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213045931/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7030017/bluey-is-on-her-way-to-canberra/ |archive-date=13 December 2020 |access-date=13 December 2020 |website=The Canberra Times |publisher=Australian Community Media}} and the video game Bluey: The Videogame.{{Cite web |last=Harmon|first=Steph |date=19 July 2023 |title=Bluey: The Videogame in the works, according to evidence dug up by online sleuths |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jul/19/bluey-the-video-game-to-be-released-videogame-australian-classification-board-rating |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720024839/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jul/19/bluey-the-video-game-to-be-released-videogame-australian-classification-board-rating |archive-date=20 July 2023 |access-date=16 September 2023 |website=The Guardian }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/first-ever-bluey-video-game-launches-november |title=First Ever Bluey Video Game Launches This November |last=Ankers-Range |first=Adele |date=19 September 2023 |work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|url-status=live|archive-date=19 September 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230919132251/https://www.ign.com/articles/first-ever-bluey-video-game-launches-november}}

Bandit has been praised as a positive father figure and commended for his patient nature, willingness to do housework and play with his children. Jennifer McClellan of USA Today described Bandit as "sarcastic, sympathetic and silly".{{Cite web |last=McClellan |first=Jennifer |date=21 October 2019 |title=Finally! Bluey on Disney is a show kids can watch on repeat without driving parents crazy |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/parenting/2019/10/21/bluey-disney-must-watch-kids-show-parents-love/4022776002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023033132/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/parenting/2019/10/21/bluey-disney-must-watch-kids-show-parents-love/4022776002/ |archive-date=23 October 2019 |access-date=23 October 2019 |website=USA Today |publisher=Gannett}} Philippa Chandler of The Guardian described the character as "laconic, playful and certainly more emotionally intelligent than, say, Peppa Pig’s hapless dad".{{Cite web |last=Chandler |first=Philippa |date=21 November 2018 |title=Bluey: how Australia fell in love with a cartoon blue heeler puppy and her family |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/nov/21/bluey-how-australia-fell-in-love-with-a-cartoon-blue-heeler-puppy-and-her-family |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121022336/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/nov/21/bluey-how-australia-fell-in-love-with-a-cartoon-blue-heeler-puppy-and-her-family |archive-date=21 November 2018 |access-date=21 April 2019 |website=The Guardian}} Doug Hendrie of The Sydney Morning Herald claimed that Bandit was designed to improve Australian dads.{{Cite web |last=Hendrie |first=Doug |date=2022-09-03 |title='I wish you were like Bluey's dad. He's much funnier than you' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-wish-you-were-like-bluey-s-dad-he-s-much-funnier-than-you-20220902-p5bexl.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} Amanda Hess, writing for The New York Times, opined that Bandit is "not only a good father — he is a fantasy, one crafted to appeal to adults as much as to children."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/arts/television/bluey-chip-chilla-dad.html |title=The Fantasy of the Fun TV Dad |last=Hess |first=Amanda |author-link=Amanda Hess |newspaper=The New York Times |date=18 December 2023 |access-date=24 December 2023 |url-access=limited}} Writing for The Conversation, Kate Cantrell and David Burton criticized the character for occasionally bullying the children and acting like a larrikin.{{Cite web |last1=Burton |first1=David |last2=Cantrell |first2=Kate |date=2022-06-10 |title=Everyone loves Bandit from Bluey – but is he a lovable larrikin, or just a bad dad? |url=http://theconversation.com/everyone-loves-bandit-from-bluey-but-is-he-a-lovable-larrikin-or-just-a-bad-dad-184239 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=The Conversation |language=en}} He is considered one of the greatest cartoon fathers of all time.{{Cite news |last=Goulis |first=Leah |date=2 September 2022 |title=Proof that Bluey's dad Bandit is the most relatable father |url=https://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/entertainment/proof-that-blueys-dad-bandit-is-the-most-relatable-father/news-story/4dd622010282c6fc2e6f53099414623e |access-date=9 March 2024 |work=Kidspot |publisher=News Corp Australia}}{{Cite news |date=30 July 2022 |title=How a cartoon dog became a role model for dads |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-62335678 |access-date=21 June 2023 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Erin |date=9 August 2022 |title=Why Bandit on 'Bluey' makes me want to be a better parent |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/bluey-bandit-dad-aspirational-parent-goals-130040112.html |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=Yahoo Life |publisher=Yahoo! Inc. |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.bluey.tv/characters/bandit/ Character biography on official website]

{{Bluey}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heeler, Bandit}}

Category:Anthropomorphic dogs

Category:Fictional dogs

Category:Fictional archaeologists

Category:Male characters in animated television series

Category:Animated characters introduced in 2018

Category:Television characters introduced in 2018

Category:Bluey (2018 TV series)

Category:Fictional people from Queensland

Category:Fictional parents or guardians