Bedtime for Cheeta

Considering some of the lightweight names on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, shouldn’t Cheeta--the chimp veteran of more than 50 films--get a shot at sidewalk immortality? It could happen.

Now 56, Cheeta’s living in retirement near Thousand Oaks with trainer Tony Gentry, who fetched the simian decades ago from Africa. But Gentry is in his ‘80s and in failing health, so friends and industry folk are trying to establish a “trust fund” for Cheeta, as well as a campaign to get the chimp his star.

One of Hollywood’s hottest animal actors, Cheeta was second banana to the likes of Johnny Weismuller (the “Tarzan” movies) and Ronald Reagan (“Bedtime for Bonzo”). He followed his last movie, “Dr. Dolittle” (1967), with occasional commercial work.

“After all, Lassie has a star. Why not Cheeta?” asks Paul Palo, who produced a segment on Cheeta with partner Peter Haklar for the CBS series “Prime Time Pets.” It airs Aug. 18.