6 Animal Film Stars With Tragic Histories

The tale of Clyde, the well-known orangutan who starred opposite Clint Eastwood in Every Which Way You Can, is far from a barrel of laughs. The character palled around with grim-faced Eastwood in two enjoyable comedies but other humans brought his kiss-blowing antics to a finish.

A couple of orangutans lent their comedic gifts to the role of Clyde. The first ape, Manis, grew in size between the first film and its sequel, so he was replaced and his trainers utilized him in their Las Vegas act. In her book Visions of Caliban: On Chimpanzees and People, Jane Goodall revealed that the second Clyde was abused using a can of mace and a pipe wrapped with newspaper.

The replacement would not live long enough to see the final version of his starring film. The monkey was allegedly caught stealing doughnuts and savagely beaten for the misdeed by a trainer who used a cane and ax handle. The second Clyde died from a brain haemorrhage a few months later.

Though a federal hearing fined the training facility for their brutal treatment of other animals, they didn't punish Gentle Jungle for their specific crimes against "Clyde" as no law at the time protected primates. Eastwood recalls the brilliance of the actors who portrayed Clyde in several interviews yet controversy casts a large shadow on their legacy.