What was the name of the chimpanzee who was a friend of the fictional film character Tarzan?

Cheeta was the name of the chimpanzee character that appeared in several 'Tarzan' films and television shows of the 1930s to 1960s. The chimpanzee often provided comic relief in the films and helped Tarzan pass messages to his friends. Occasionally, Cheeta and some other animals came to Tarzan's rescue.

Tarzan is a fictional character invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs in his 1914 book 'Tarzan of the Apes'. Tarzan, whose real name was John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke, was left alone in the African jungle after his father's death. Giant Mangani apes raised the baby as one of their own, turning him into a feral-child and, eventually, an ape-man.

Although apes featured in the stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs, no chimpanzees appear in the original Tarzan novels. Instead, Tarzan had a monkey companion called Nkima.

In each 'Tarzan' movie, Cheeta was played by more than one chimpanzee, depending on what talents the scene called for. Films featuring Cheeta include 'Tarzan the Ape Man' (1932), 'Tarzan's Desert Mystery' (1943), 'Tarzan's Hidden Jungle' (1955), and'Tarzan and the Valley of Gold' (1966).