"Jiggs", better known to my fellow olden farts as "Cheeta", celebrated his 75th birthday last week at his retirement home in Palm Springs (California). Born April 9, 1932, Cheeta first appeared in a 1954 Tarzan film as a young pup, er, chimp, in an uncredited cameo. He later took over the role of "Cheeta", a role which he held throughout the remainder of the Weissmuller Tarzan career. His last role was in 1967's Doctor Doolittle.Chimpanzees, we are told, have normal life expectancies of about 50 years. Cheeta is recognized as the world's oldest living chimp. Cheeta lives at the C.H.E.E.T.A. Primate Sanctuary, where, between watching his old movies with his grandson, he turns out original art works which are sold to raise money for the Sanctuary.
(h/t to Huck and Jim, who alerted us to the event via backchannel and was apparently too proud to sully their blog with the news. We've got no pride.)
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