Charlton Heston stars as astronaut George Taylor, with Roddy McDowall as chimpanzee Cornelius and Kim Hunter as Zira in the 1968 classic Planet of the Apes.
Main cast
- George TaylorCharlton HestonMain
- CorneliusRoddy McDowallMain
- ZiraKim HunterMain
- Dr. ZaiusMaurice EvansMain
Supporting cast
- DodgeJeff BurtonSupp
- LandonRobert GunnerSupp
- NovaLinda HarrisonSupp
- HonoriusJames DalySupp
- MinisterLou WagnerSupp
- LuciusLou WagnerSupp
Guest & voice
- JuliusBuck KartalianGuest
- AlbinaNorma FieldsGuest
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About this cast
Planet of the Apes (1968) follows astronaut George Taylor who crash-lands on a planet where intelligent apes rule over primitive humans. The lead cast includes Charlton Heston as Taylor, Roddy McDowall as the sympathetic chimpanzee Cornelius, and Kim Hunter as his fiancée Zira.
FAQs
Who plays George Taylor in Planet of the Apes?
Charlton Heston plays astronaut George Taylor, the protagonist of the 1968 film.
Who plays Cornelius in Planet of the Apes?
Roddy McDowall plays Cornelius, the chimpanzee archaeologist who helps Taylor.
Who plays Zira in Planet of the Apes?
Kim Hunter plays Zira, the chimpanzee psychologist who befriends Taylor.
Who plays Dr. Zaius in Planet of the Apes?
Maurice Evans plays Dr. Zaius, the orangutan Minister of Science and Chief Defender of the Faith.
Is Planet of the Apes a TV series or a film?
The 1968 Planet of the Apes is a film, though it spawned a franchise including sequels and a TV series.
Sources & where to watch: IMDb · Wikipedia · Where to watch (JustWatch UK) · Updated June 2026