Cheetah the Chimp: 1931-2011

An onscreen companion of Tarzan; Cheetah the Chimp, has sadly passed away. Cheetah was an animal actor who was one of a few chimps who appeared with Johnny Weissmuller in the 1930s and 40s Tarzan classic movie serials. Since the 1960s Cheetah has lived at Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Florida. The officials there have reported most chimps in captivity usually only live into their 30s, meaning Cheetah was particularly long-lived. Cheetah was apparently one of the more amiable chimpanzees in this particular sanctuary, and will be missed fondly. Cheetah’s Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller died in 1984. NPR is reporting Cheetah passed away due to complications to kidney failure on Christmas Eve. Farewell, Cheetah!