Cheetah, Tarzan's chimp sidekick, dies at 80

(AP) 

PALM HARBOR, Florida -- Cheetah, the chimpanzee sidekick in the Tarzan movies of the early 1930s, has died at age 80 a Florida animal sanctuary said.

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor announced that Cheetah died Dec. 24 of kidney failure.

Sanctuary outreach director Debbie Cobb on Wednesday 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.

Based on the works of author Edgar Rice Burroughs, the Tarzan stories, which have spawned scores of books and films over the years, chronicle the adventures of a man who was raised by apes in Africa.

Cheetah was the comic relief in the Tarzan films, which starred American Olympic gold medal swimmer Johnny Weissmuller. Cobb said Cheetah came to the sanctuary from Weissmuller's estate sometime around 1960.

Cobb said Cheetah wasn't a troublemaker. Still, sanctuary volunteer Ron Priest said that when the chimp didn't like what was going on, he would throw feces.

[sweetjill1]

Rest in peace, Cheetah. My daddy always told me that Johnny Weissmuller was the best Tarzan of them all. My personal favorite was Ron Ely :)

[venusvegasvada]

RIP Cheetah. Another hollywood great passes.

He still had more class and intelligence than Alec Baldwin.

Still a lot people can learn from a chimp.


On a side note it's too bad it's too expensive for our great nation to take care of all of our elderly with the same love and dignity as this chimp.

[credibility2]

Was surprised to hear about the chimp's passing...especially since it was so old...I remember the goofy antics of the chimp in those movies...made too much noise, however...

[actornaught]

Interesting little video, seemed like a fun little guy.

Rest in Peace, little buddy.

[talis4]

"Ron Priest said that when the chimp didn't like what was going on, he would throw feces."
Gee, Cheetah sounds like a natural for the teab@g movement, or potentially a presidential candidate for the retardlican fascist party.

[macintrance]

Too much drinking

[1American]

If I might add, Cheetah never did drugs, was not promiscuous, and never abused his kids. As for the throwing of feces, that's what all Hollywood celebs do when they're angry. RIP Cheetah, you gave a lot of humor to those my age when we were kids.