R.I.P Cheetah

“Cheetah the chimpanzee from the Tarzan movies of the 1930s has died at the age of 80.

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbour, Florida, announced on its website that Cheetah died on December 24 of kidney failure.

Sanctuary outreach director Debbie Cobb told The Tampa Tribune that Cheetah was outgoing, loved finger painting and liked to see people laugh. She said he seemed to be tuned into human feelings.

Cheetah was the comic relief in the Tarzan series starring American Olympic gold medal swimmer Johnny Weissmuller.

Ms Cobb said Cheetah came to the sanctuary from Weissmuller’s estate sometime around 1960.

Ms Cobb said Cheetah was not a troublemaker. Still, sanctuary volunteer Ron Priest said when the chimp did not like what was going on, he would throw faeces."
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Wow, that’s amazing. I don’t keep tabs on the life expectancy of chimps. Cheetah was 80 years of age? That’s a mighty good innings.

I’ve never seen any of the old Tarzan flicks. The sad part is that these films are probably rotting in the dumpster somewhere; somebody ought to purchase the rights to these and other films with iconic film/pop culture characters and revive them like they deserve to be. If somebody played a few Tarzan flicks on a Saturday matinee, I’d check ‘em out for sure, even if they weren’t that great.

So long, Cheetah. The next banana is for you.

When I was a kid I watched his films voraciously and Cheetah’s laugh never failed to get a laugh out of me. So long, buddy.

R.I.P.

80. Damn I wish i can live up to be 30 let alone 80? 80? Hitchens never got there. Wow. I guess when you’re in the biz you get tougher. It looked so sad though. I hope he did have a nice life though. I use to watch Tarzan a lot did not know it was always the same Chimpanzee. Rest In Peace. I’m sure there is a good old tree just for you up there, in the wild I mean. ;(

Wow, I had no idea he had still been alive. He entertained me so much as a kid. Probably my favorite animal performer in movies of all time.

i hate to burst everyone’s bubble but this has happened before. if this is indeed one of the original film cheetahs he has outlived any other captive chimp on record…by about 30 years

^ While scanning thru that article I didn’t see if the author mentions what happened to the original 1930s Cheetah – does anyone know?

Hucksters, that’s showbiz for ya.

Jiggs, who originated the role of Cheeta ‘died on February 28, 1938 or March 1, 1938 at age 9, of pneumonia, and was buried March 2, 1938 in the Los Angeles Pet Cemetery’ :(
he appeared in the first two weismuller films and the tarzan serial with buster crabbe

That makes more sense.

Ms Cobb said Cheetah was not a troublemaker.

This quote made me sad. I would think that any chimp called Cheetah would hopefully be a real troublemaker – just like the impish film version. But, I’m afraid Ruby is right – the world has had many Cheetahs. It needs more, for sure.

thanks Ruby, I’m glad I found out the facts before emailing my younger brother “Cheetah just died!”.

i hope he had a good life. i don’t like seeing wild animals in captivity

and yes, rise of the planet of the apes made me cry :P

^ Great movie.

I know how you feel, Johnny.

I’ve no time for the Apes remakes. Has CGI ever looked so cartoonish? Bring back Roddy McDowall and the ape masks. As Mister Heston would say:

Give me Andy Serkis’ performance any day. If the Oscars weren’t completely useless they would recognize him.

“Bring back Roddy McDowall and the ape masks”: totally. CGI is beyond cold, it’s death dying, which is cold as a ice cube by the way. They just do not move me. It’s an animation within a live-action film. Most of the time does not move me.

Rise of the Planet Apes, people, yea or nay? Netflix it?

But Serkis’s performance-capture is able to exhibit real humanity in a more complex and subtle way than a mask ever could, and I’d argue that this film is the best of the Apes movies, hands down. And I like them all.

King Kong? (I mean there are always exceptions? Loved Gollum by the way) I just did not like the trailer, it’s a like a machine playing against a human? Maybe I’m old fashioned. I just don’t think remaking all the olden successes over and over and over again should be “THE THING”. I prefer a film like this: http://mubi.com/films/carmen—2 (and I love the whole concept behind Planet of the Apes, and of course the original novel behind it).

Look—i didn’t want to see it at all, but my kids did. I was taken aback by how effective it was. Give it a shot.

Will try then. Thanks. Hey I’m not blaming you for having seen it. Am sure that there is something to be gained out of it. I just can’t see every single movie that opens near me. Cash is scarce. That’s all. And was not convinced by the trailer either. But sometimes one is surprised I can see that you were. That’s nice. And yes Serkis CGIed performances are worthy of commendation and indeed the Academy is way too conservative at times.

It said on the News last night that Cheetah loved watching football as well as finger painting, 80 was an exceptional age for any chimp, and he could throw a tantrum when not getting his way. These celebrities, eh?

ahahahhahahahah. LOl. I too love soccer. Tantrum is my missing brother. Indeed these celebs. Ahahah. :) He was a lucky Primate. To survive and endure is indeed beautiful. Hey Kenji-san? How’s Ozu these days? Still not considered the world’s all-time best Director? (In all seriousness I know he is… and i’m a “youngster”).

The best of Oliveira is yet to come…

Aha. Only Kenji could be Kenji. Indeed. But he has a bag full of tricks. I don’t know his secret though. Sardines, fado, good wife, wealthy health, notwithstanding.