"Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan was an illegal immigrant when he entered the United States at age 13 in the 1980s, he revealed Monday on Jada Pinkett Smith's Facebook show "Red Table Talk."
With only $100 to his name, Millan even then dreamed of being the “greatest dog trainer in the world.”
“Death is more likely than jumping it,” Millan said of his trip across the border. “It’s not a piece of cake. I’m respectful about it. I know I broke a boundary and a rule. But it was for a dream.”
Millan also recounted meeting Smith when he was 19, and how her advising him to learn English and sending a tutor to his house helped him get on TV as he was building his dog-walking and training business.
The famous trainer got his start cleaning kennels and was able to build a dog walking business that got attention from the Los Angeles Times.
He became a U.S. citizen of the in 2009.
Millan also admitted to Smith that he struggled with depression and contemplated suicide after his first marriage ended in divorce in 2012.
“The ex-wife was not an animal person,” Millan said. “Often you take it upon yourself like you did something wrong. And that’s when I wanted to commit suicide.”
Milan hosted the Emmy-nominated television show “The Dog Whisperer” from 2004 to 2012 on National Geographic, which was that network’s top show in its first season and was broadcast in more than 80 countries.
Millan also authored best-selling books and instructional DVDs and has a line of dog products. He now tours the world with a live show where he demonstrates his training techniques with shelter dogs.
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