Charles Gemora

Carlos Cruz Gemora (June 15, 1903 – August 19, 1961), commonly known as Charles Gemora, was a Filipino-American actor, makeup artist, and stunt performer. He was known for his prolific appearances in many Hollywood films while wearing a gorilla suit. He became the "go-to" actor whenever a gorilla character appeared in a film.

Early life The youngest of nine children, Carlos Cruz Gemora was born in 1903 on Negros in the Philippines, then governed by the United States of America as the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands. His parents were wealthy, owning several oil wells throughout the island. After the death of his father, he ran away from home but was found by his family and sent to a monastery. There he studied art books. After developing a talent for drawing, sculpting and makeup, Gemora won an art contest in 1922, which inspired him to seek work as an artist in Hollywood.

Gemora was known for his comedic portrayal of gorillas and appeared in comedy films alongside talents such as Wheeler & Woolsey, Andy Clyde, Edward Everett Horton, Thelma Todd, the Marx Brothers, and Laurel and Hardy. He faced scandal over his appearance in the 1930 film Ingagi, which was falsely presented as a documentary film. Due to the controversy surrounding the film, he signed an affidavit confirming that he had portrayed the gorilla in it.

Personal life Gemora married Isabel "Belle" Fyffe in 1938. They had three children, Diana, Robert and Patrick. He died from a heart attack at 58 years old in 1961.