Happy Birthday Cheetah

[WhiteDove]

Cheetah the chimpanzee, the animal star of 12 Tarzan films in the '30s and '40s, celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday.

Officially the world's oldest chimp, Cheetah, who was "discovered" by an animal trainer on a trip to Africa

in the 1930s, is said to be in excellent shape at a primate centre in Palm Springs, California.

He has outlived both his human Tarzan costars. Johnny Weissmuller, who played the lead,

died in 1984 aged 79, and Maureen O'Sullivan, who was Jane, died in 1998 at 87.

He was a movie star by age two, went on to have a 30-year film career and now lives in comfortable retirement as Bob Hope's neighbour in California where he is admired as a prominent local artist. Not at all bad, for a chimpanzee. The chimp, Cheetah, played alongside Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan in the classic Tarzan series of the 30s. The film has just been re-released, so Cheetah is back in the limelight.

Not surprisingly, he's the world's wealthiest chimp. He's also one of the oldest - 67, but he doesn't look a day over 40. Until his retirement in 1967 Cheetah had virtually cornered the market in chimp roles. Fans still shed a tear over his final cameo performance alongside Rex Harrison in Dr Dolittle.

Old Ape - Cheetah today, and below, with Johnny Weissmuller and

Maureen O'Sullivan in 1936

In the United States, youngsters are falling over themselves to learn about the "real" Cheetah, and tour buses now drive past his house in Palm Springs in the hope of catching a glimpse of the great star. The guides say there is almost as much interest in Cheetah as in his close neighbours Bob Hope and Kirk Douglas. Cheetah lives with his companion and owner, actor Dan Westfall, who says he is honoured to share a home with the "last of the simian icons." Home, "Casa de Cheetah," also provides shelter for a multitude of apes, dogs, snakes and birds. The weekly pet food bill is in the region of $500.

Cheetah, who worked with Weissmuller and O'Sullivan (as Jane) on 12 Tarzan films, was inherited by Westfall from his uncle, Tony Gentry, an animal trainer who went to work in Hollywood in the 1930s with animal expert Frank Buck. Gentry went to Africa to find chimps with movie potential and discovered Cheetah.

Cheetah, who is still alert but taking things easy on account of his age, still gives interviews. He doesn't actually speak English, but, claims Westfall, can understand what is said to him. The interview begins with the star slumped on the sofa watching tv. "Put your feet down while you are watching tv," suggests Westfall kindly. Cheetah does as he is advised. "Blow your nose," is the next command. Cheetah takes out a hankie. Once comfortable, the chimp takes a can of soft drink and expertly opens it, before nodding as Westfall elaborates on the secret of Cheetah's success.

For starters, there are cigars and booze. He likes both, or at least he did before Brigitte Bardot poked her nose in. The animal rights campaigner complained that they could do damage to Cheetah's health and threatened protests and demonstrations. So, Cheetah was denied his little pleasures. But he's still allowed his favourite food of burgers and chips along with monkey chow and fruit. These days he prefers to stay at home watching old films, especially his own, on tv, but on special occasions can be seen at his own table at McDonald's.

He doesn't do as much painting as he once did. Works in his "apestract" style fetch between $NZ250 and $2,000 apiece. A couple of years ago he held a joint exhibition at London's National Gallery with human artist Peter Blake, of Sgt Pepper album cover fame. Chimps usually die before 50 so Cheetah appears to be a good ad for the a-little-bit-of-what-you-like-does-you-good philosophy, although at 82kg he is a little on the heavy side for his height - 1.37m (4ft 6in). - The Independent

Edited August 18, 2007 by WhiteDove