The Archive

Jungle fever

A 76 year old who has appeared in numerous Tarzan movies as well as playing alongside such luminaries as Rex Harrison and Ronald Reagan, is planning a comeback with a record and dvd in production.

That such a pensioner could have already had a more prolific and successful career than me is depressing enough.

That he's still got the energy to give it another go just makes it worse.

And when you realise that he's a bloody chimpanzee into the bargain, well that's just taking the piss.

The chimpanzee star of movies Tarzan and Bedtime For Bonzo is making his return to Hollywood after a four decade-long hiatus - the ape's handlers have signed a record and DVD deal.

The 76-year-old chimp, Cheeta, starred in his last feature film Doctor Dolittle opposite Rex Harrison in 1967, and has been hailed by The Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest living monkey."

Worse still, whilst I could have comforted myself with the thought that I really wanted to be a writer, not an actor, the flippin' ape's beaten me at that too...

"And now his owner, Dan Westfall, is looking to capitalise on the Liberian-born chimp's unusual life, publishing details in a memoir entitled Me Cheeta, slated for release next year."

So whilst it takes an infinite number of monkeys on typewrites to come up with the works of Shakespeare, I guess you only need one to knock up a memoir.

June 21st. Mr Weismuller gave me a banana before filming today, which I enjoyed a lot. Then he looked me in the eye slightly too long, so I tried to tear his arm out of its socket. All in all, a good first day on set.


April 4th. Got the news today that I was passed over the the PG Tips gig. I need a daquiri.

Most frightening of all, though, is this quote from Cheeta's owner...

He says, "When (Cheeta) sees the needle, he holds his hands out...He's the light of my life, and I'm the light of his."

Whooah there fellah! Does PETA know about you administering drugs to the light of your life?

This story is so weird, I'm just toing to end with a quote from the piece, which is so bizarre as to make an additional comment redundant...

Westfall, who cares for Cheeta at his shelter in Palm Springs, California, has also announced plans for Cheeta to take part in a music single available for download on iTunes. The record, a cover of 1976 country-music hit Convoy, will release in conjunction with the promotion of his DVD - showing Cheeta on film as he drives a buggy and eyes a bikini clad girl.

posted by Peter The Great @ 5:28 PM