Cheeta the Chimp, who co-starred in a dozen Tarzan films, is to publish his memoirs.



The chimpanzee is listed in the Guinness World Records as the oldest living non-human primate at 75.

Plucked from obscurity to become a Hollywood star in the 1930s, he later overcame addiction to alcohol and cigars.

The chimpanzee, who lives in California and whose real name is Jiggs, was approached by the publisher Fourth Estate.

He has taken on a literary agent and is working with a ghostwriter on a "funny, moving and searingly honest" autobiography.

The chimpanzee was snatched from the Liberian jungle in 1932 and taken to New York by the flamboyant animal importer Henry Trefflich.

He starred in 12 Tarzan films and went on to work with Bela Lugosi in the 1950s, finally quitting the big screen after 1967's Doctor Dolittle with Rex Harrison.

Nicholas Pearson, the publishing director of Fourth Estate, said: "Here we've got the real monkey - a great actor who is one of the few still alive from what was the golden age of Hollywood. He saw it all.

"He had to act to save his life, literally. Others who fell by the wayside often ended up in the lab with the dogs, mice and rabbits."

Me Cheeta will be published in October. The publisher would not reveal the advance payment, but said the sum was "substantial - not bananas".

A book written by a chimp can't be worse than some of the crap I've read.
And if I don't like it I can fling poo at him.

Seems like a win - win situation for me.

Sweeny79 said:

okay, let me get this straight... the monkey is writing a book,

what the hell

statuesqque said:

If Paris Hilton can star in a sex tape.....a chimp can write a book At least the book would be more entertaining and have some kind of intellectual thought

Tarzan looks hot in that pic!

ZombieKitten said:

so does Jane.

jami0mckay said:

so does Cheeta

roodboi said:

chillichocaholic said:

you do have a very good points there

DanceWme said:

Co-this!