This is a list of non-human apes of encyclopedic interest. It includes individual hominoids that are in some way famous or notable.
Actors Çarli, a chimpanzee, was featured in the Turkish TV shows Çarli and Çarli İş Başında. J. Fred Muggs (born 1952), a chimpanzee, was a "co-host" with Dave Garroway on NBC's Today Show in the 1950s. Jiggs, a chimpanzee, was the first Cheeta in the Tarzan films in the 1930s. Jimmy, a chimpanzee, appeared in the film Dark Venture. Joe Martin, an orangutan, appeared in several silent-era American films. Pankun (パン君, born October 1, 2001), a chimpanzee, was featured in the Japanese TV shows Tensai! Shimura Dobutsu-en (Genius! Shimura Zoo) and the TBS program Dobutsu Kiso Tengai! (Unbelievable Animals!). Peter (active 1907–1910), a chimpanzee vaudeville performer who was studied by Lightner Witmer. Sam (1989–2010), an orangutan, played Dunston in the 1995 movie comedy Dunston Checks In; he was trained by Larry Madrid. Strawberry, an orangutan, appeared as a pet ape temporarily cared for by Mr. Edwards, (Victor French) in Little House on the Prairie season 9:Ep 20, "For The Love of Blanche". Tonka, a chimpanzee, was the subject of the HBO documentary series (2024) Chimp Crazy. Tonka appeared in films Buddy, George of the Jungle, and Babe: Pig in the City. Travis, a chimpanzee, gained fame for starring in commercials for Old Navy and Coca-Cola in the 2000s. He was shot by police following a brutal attack on a 55-year-old woman in Stamford, Connecticut.
Artists Congo (1954–1964), a chimpanzee, abstract impressionist painter of the late 1950s. Koko (1971–2018), a gorilla, widely believed to be able to communicate with humans through sign language. Michael (1973–2000), a silverback gorilla, impressionist painter, was taught American sign language with Koko Peter, alias Pierre Brassau, a chimpanzee, was the subject of a famous hoax through which the chimpanzee's paintings were presented as the avant-garde works of unknown French (human) artist "Pierre Brassau".
Science and exploration
Abang (born 1966)—orangutan, taught to use and make a stone tool (cutting flake) Ai (1976-2026)—chimpanzee, studied by scientists at Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University Ayumu (born 2000)—chimpanzee, studied by scientists at Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University Bonnie—orangutan, began whistling (mimicking an animal caretaker), which is changing ideas about primate sound repertoires Chantek (1977–2017)—orangutan, involved with language research and ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador Enos (died 1962)—chimpanzee, 1961 NASA Project Mercury orbiter, the only chimpanzee and the third primate to orbit the Earth Flo (died 1972)—chimpanzee, key member of the Kasakela Chimpanzee Community studied by Jane Goodall; received an obituary in the Sunday Times Frodo (1976–2013)—chimpanzee, baby-eating "bully", attacked Jane Goodall and Gary Larson Gua—chimpanzee; raised as a child by the Drs. Kellogg alongside their son Donald Ham (1956–1983)—chimpanzee; the first great ape to successfully travel to space, Ham's 1961 NASA Project Mercury suborbital flight occurred 11 months before Enos' orbital mission. Jenny—orangutan, encountered and described by Charles Darwin in March 1838 at London Zoo. Kanzi (1980-2025)—bonobo, involved with language research and tool invention, ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador Koko (1971–2018)—gorilla, involved with sign language research and ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador Lana—chimpanzee, reared at Yerkes National Primate Research Center as part of its language analogue project Loulis—chimpanzee, involved in ape hand-signing research Lucy—chimpanzee, cross-fostered and raised by University of Oklahoma psychotherapist Moja (1972-2002)—chimpanzee, involved in ape hand-signing research Nim Chimpsky (1973–2000)—chimpanzee, named after linguist Noam Chomsky Nyota (born 1998)—bonobo, Panbanisha's son Oliver (1957–2012)—chimpanzee, the so-called "Missing Link", apparent "humanzee" Panbanisha—bonobo at the same research center as Kanzi Panpanzee (1985–2014)—chimpanzee at the same research center as Kanzi Poco (1981)—chimpanzee researched by Robin Crompton whose early confinement resulted in human-like bipedality Sarah (1959–2019)—research chimpanzee whose cognitive skills are documented in The Mind of an Ape Sultan—chimpanzee, used in classic Kohler tool-use studies Titus (1974–2009)—gorilla, an extensively observed silverback mountain gorilla Viki—chimpanzee, one of the first apes used in ape language experiments Washoe (1965–2007)—chimpanzee, pioneer ape of hand-signing research
Zoo-kept
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