Back in 1971, actress Tippi Hedren, her husband Noel Marshall, and their actress daughter, Melanie Griffith, brought a full-grown male lion into their residential home in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Tippi and Noel had recently come back from a trip to Africa, where they'd seen an abandoned house inhabited by lions. The experience inspired them to create a film about the endangered big cats in order to raise awareness and promote conservation, and as animal trainer Ron Oxley had told them that in order “to get to know anything about lions, you’ve just got to live with them for a while," they were determined to do just that.
Tippi and Noel separated a year after "Roar," and Tippi went on to found the Shambala Preserve animal sanctuary, a place for mistreated and neglected exotic animals. The actress lives at the sanctuary to this day.
The film that came out of their experience, "Roar," was released in 1981 and featured 150 big cats, including leopards, cheetahs, and cougars. It ended up being a box office flop, and during production, more than 70 people sustained injuries, including Melanie.
LIFE photographer Michael Rougier took these fascinating photos which documented the family's day-to-day experiences of having a lion named Neil in their home in 1971.
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1. Just another day at Tippi & Noel's house.
2. Tippi Hedren wrestling with Neil.
3. Melanie jumps into the pool as Neil playfully grabs her leg.
4. A housekeeper steps over Neil.
5. Noel Marshall tries to work in his study with a lion in his face.
6. Tippi & Neil read the paper together.
7. Neil shares Melanie's bed and blankets.
8. Melanie pets Neil as she swims in the pool.
9. Neil plays with a child poolside.
10. Neil helps Tippi in the kitchen.
12. Neil sits by Tippi's side as she reads the paper, much like a house cat would.
13. Tippi and Neil play in the pool.
14. Melanie and Tippi hang out on her bed.
15. Neil enjoys a luxurious poolside stretch.
16. Tippi and Neil just "lion" around.
17. Noel tries to get some work done with a roaring Neil.
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