Who played Cornelius in the original Planet of the Apes film enterprise?

You could say Roddy McDowall had more fun than a barrel of monkeys! The classic British actor, who died in 1998 at 70 after a bout with lung cancer, portrayed the wistful Cornelius in the first three original Planet of the Apes films and then Caesar in the final two installments of the series.

He then played the eager chimp Galen in the short-lived television series based on the films in 1974.

Throughout his 60-year career, McDowall played characters in various notable films including The Longest Day, The Poseidon Adventure and Funny Lady. He received a Golden Globe best supporting actor nomination for his portrayal of Augustus in the 1960 big-budget extravaganza Cleopatra that starred Elizabeth Taylor.

Like other Hollywood film types, he had some fun and appeared on the 1960s Batman television series. He was the impish villain The Bookworm.

The respected actor spent several years on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which hand out the Oscars. He was also on the selection committee for the Kennedy Center Honors.