Ape-ing the Role

Instead of toiling at my desk, I was perusing TMZ.com when I came upon a piece that I found absolutely shocking and horrifying. 

The legendary animal actor, Cheeta, does not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who is Cheeta? 

Friends, probably only the greatest chimpanzee actor that ever graced the silver screen. He has appeared in 12 Tarzan movies with co-stars Johnny Weismuller and Buster Crabbe in the title role.

Yes, he is that Cheeta. 

He could have sat back and rested on his laurels, but he is a true thespian. He demonstrated his range as "Ramona the chimp" in Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952). Cheeta’s even has an uncredited cameo in Dr. Doolittle (1967) with incomparable Rex Harrison.  He is currently shooting the upcoming Hollywood Deadbeats.   

Cheeta is truly a renaissance chimp -- he is not only an actor but an accomplished painter with plans to pen his life story.  At the youthful age of 76, he lives in Palm Springs, California with no intention of slowing down.

Such a stellar resume screams Walk of Fame. So it perplexes me as to why Cheeta has been denied.  Cheeta has been turned down 7 times by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.  Other luminary actors such as "Lassie," "Rin Tin Tin" and "Kermit the Frog" have been honored. Even "Godzilla" has a star.  Why not Cheeta? 

We must rectify this travesty of injustice.  His handlers have launched an online petition and website.  Let’s make 2009 Cheeta’s year.

-- Liz Mikre