GEORGE BARROWS

February 7, 1914

George Barrows was born on February 7, 1914 in New York City.

He was one of Hollywood’s leading “gorilla performers.” Unlike other “gorilla performers,” he also did a lot of performances without the gorilla suit doing stunt work and bit parts in numerous feature films and television episodes.

Barrows made his screen debut as one of two gorillas in MGM’s Tarzan and His Mate (1934) starring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan. 

Although he continued acting and doing stunt work, he didn’t wear the gorilla suit again until 1953, in an episode of “The Abbott and Costello Show”.  As a human, he made his TV debut as a Guard in an episode of “Magnavox Theatre” based on “The Three Musketeers”. 

He donned the gorilla suit 18 more times from 1954 to 1978 including three times on “The Lucy Show,” but he also played two human characters on the series.

His first appearance was in “Lucy and the Monsters” (TLS S3;E18) on January 25, 1965. Barrows played Loretta, the maid, in the haunted house dream sequence. 

In “Lucy at Marineland” (TLS S4;E1) on September 13, 1965, Barrows was a (human) extra in the location sequence at the dolphin show.  Although not addressed by name in the dialogue, he is credited as Bruiser. His blonde companion is unbilled and unidentified. 

“Lucy and Art Linkletter” (TLS S4;E16) on January 10, 1966, found Barrows playing Hilda, a gorilla escaped from the Los Angeles Zoo. The gorilla has actually been sent by Art Linkletter, to tempt Lucy into speaking while she’s competing for a prize by staying silent for 24 hours. 

When “Lucy Meets Mickey Rooney” (TLS S4;E18) on January 24, 1966, Barrows is involved in the silent movie sketch in which Lucy plays Charlie Chaplin and Rooney the Kid. Barrows plays an escaped Prisoner, toting a ball and chain as he runs from the Keystone Kops. 

In “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (TLS S4;E20)  on February 7, 1966, Barrows plays Coconuts Mulligan, star of the film “Love in the Jungle”. She (Coconuts is a female, like all of Barrow’s other Lucy gorillas) is accompanied to the premiere by Miss Beverly Hills (Mimi Van Tysen). 

Also for Desilu, Barrows played a policeman and a fireman on two episodes of the helicopter drama “Whirlybirds” (1957). 

Barrows played a policeman on a Christmas Eve 1959 episode of “The Untouchables.” 

He even had a bit part on a 1962 episode of “My Three Sons” filmed on the Desilu lot. 

Like many of Lucy’s performers, Barrows was seen on “Batman”.  He played Charles, henchman to the Catwoman in two 1968 episodes. 

His final gorilla character was on an episode of “The Tim Conway Show” in 1981. He retired the following year and died in 1994 at age 80.