The Original Tarzan’s “Cheetah” Dead At 80

Tarzan's Cheetah at Suncoast Primate

Update 01/01/2012: This is a hoax!

Palm Harbor, Florida – Cheetah, the playful chimp who rose to fame in the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movies of the 1930s, has died at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, a Sanctuary spokesman said tonight.

He was 80 years old.

Cheetah suffered kidney failure during the week of December 19th and died Christmas Eve.

The chimpanzee was one of several appearing as the character Cheetah in the Tarzan movies.

“The Sanctuary’s residents and volunteers would like to thank all of the community members for their continued support as the Sanctuary continues to expand on the legacy and foundation Cheetah continues to oversee as he watches over his supporters, friends, and family,” the Sanctuary’s website announcement stated.

Cheetah was acquired by a predecessor to the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, the “Chimp Farm,” in 1960 from the estate of actor Johnny Weissmuller, according to the sanctuary’s outreach coordinator Debbie Cobb. The facility served as a retirement home for the chimp, as well as other Hollywood animal extras,

Cheetah appeared in the Tarzan moves from 1932 through 1934, Cobb said. According to the website Tarzanmovieguide.com, “Tarzan the Ape Man” was released in 1932 and “Tarzan and his Mate” in 1934.

Cheetah in Scene From "Tarzan and His Mate"

Both movies starred Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan. Weissmuller — the first speaking Tarzan, according to the Internet Movie Database website — died in 1984.

Cheetah was “one of our most outgoing” chimps, Cobb said, and he delighted visitors.

Flowers to mark his passing are already arriving at the sanctuary, which is planning to hold a “Day of Remembrance” for Cheetah in the days ahead.

Cheetah came to the primate sanctuary from Weissmuller’s Florida estate around 1960. He was the most famous of the sanctuary’s 15 chimpanzees.

He was very compassionate, Cobb said. He could tell if I was having a good day or a bad day. He was always trying to get me to laugh if he thought I was having a bad day. He was very in tune to human feelings.

Cheetah was known for his ability to stand up and walk like a person, sanctuary volunteer Ron Priest said.

Another distinguishing characteristic, When he didn’t like somebody or something that was going on, he would pick up some poop and throw it at them, Priest said. He could get you at 30 feet with bars in between.

Still, he wasn’t a chimp that caused a lot of problems.

Cheetah is not believed to have any children, Priest said.

Condolences on the sanctuary site were received from numerous countries and in several different languages. A few posters credited him with helping them develop a love for animals.

Cheetah will remain forever remembered in history, wrote one man from Malta.

This little man was almost human,” an anonymous poster wrote. Some of the antics he got up to used to make me laugh when I was in my teens many years ago. Thanks Cheetah for all the good times you had and made us all laugh. You will be a star that will be always remembered. I am in my 60s now and grew up with you.

For more info about Johnny Weissmuller see Wikipedia.

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