J. Fred Muggs facts for kids
J. Fred Muggs in 1954
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| Species | Common chimpanzee |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | March 14, 1952 French Cameroon |
| Occupation | Television personality |
| Years active | 1953–1975 |
J. Fred Muggs (born March 14, 1952) is a famous chimpanzee who became a television star in the 1950s. Born in Africa, he was brought to New York City as a baby. He is best known for being the animal mascot on NBC's Today Show from 1953 to 1957.
After his time on the Today Show, Muggs starred in other TV shows, traveled the world, and worked at the Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa, Florida. He retired when he was 23 years old. As of 2025, Muggs is still alive. While many chimpanzees live to be about 50, some can live for as long as 70 years.
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A Star is Born
J. Fred Muggs was born in a part of Africa that is now the country of Cameroon. When he was just 10 months old, he was in a pet store in New York. Two former NBC employees, Carmine "Bud" Mennella and Leroy "Roy" Waldron, bought him for $600. Mennella trained the young chimp for a life in entertainment.
Muggs's big break came after an appearance on the Perry Como Show. An NBC executive named Pat Weaver saw his potential and wanted him for the Today Show. Muggs officially joined the show on February 3, 1953, often appearing dressed in diapers just like a human baby.
Life on the Today Show
When Muggs joined the Today Show, it was not very popular. The show's host was Dave Garroway. Adding a chimpanzee to the cast was a strange idea, and the show's newsreader even quit because of it. But the decision paid off!
A Famous Co-Star
Viewers loved Muggs, and the show's ratings soared. It is estimated that Muggs helped the network earn around $100 million. He became a huge star.
Muggs had an amazing wardrobe with 450 different outfits. He learned over 500 words and would entertain audiences by "reading" the newspaper. He also did impressions of the cartoon character Popeye and even played the piano with famous musician Steve Allen. His fame led to merchandise like books, comics, and games. He was so popular that he was invited to open new supermarkets and attend special events for the US Navy.
A Tricky Personality
Although he was a star, Muggs could be difficult to work with. Some people described him as having a bad temper. He seemed to learn that if he misbehaved while the show was live on air, he wouldn't get into trouble right away.
There were stories about his misbehavior. At his first press conference, he pulled off host Dave Garroway's glasses. Another time, he climbed a tree during a broadcast and had to be tempted down with bananas. He was also known to have bitten the comedian Martha Raye on the arm. Because of these incidents, Garroway and Muggs's handlers had disagreements.
Muggs also appeared on the game show Make the Connection. Instead of sitting still, he spent most of the time running all over the set. The host, Gene Rayburn, finally had to stop the game.
World Traveler and Later Life
Muggs was not just a star in America. He went on a world tour to promote the Today Show. In Japan, he was said to be almost as popular as Marilyn Monroe. In Russia, a newspaper called him "a symbol of the American way of life."
His time on the Today Show was criticized during the show's coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. The show kept interrupting the serious event with silly clips of Muggs. This upset many viewers in the United Kingdom and the United States.
In 1957, Muggs was replaced on the show by another chimpanzee named Kokomo Jr.. He then briefly had his own program, The J. Fred Muggs Show. After that, he worked at Busch Gardens in Florida. He made a special appearance on Good Morning America for his 23rd birthday before he retired from show business.
Muggs and his chimpanzee friend, Phoebe B. Beebe, who also appeared on the Today Show, now live in Citrus Park, Florida. They are cared for by Gerald Preis, the son of Muggs's original trainer.
Legacy
J. Fred Muggs left a lasting mark on television. For many years, TV Guide magazine had a special feature called "The J. Fred Muggs Awards for Distinguished Foolishness," which pointed out silly moments on TV.
His fame was also referenced in the 1994 movie Quiz Show. The film is about a game show scandal from the 1950s. In one scene, a character who is offered a job on the Today Show jokes to the actor playing Dave Garroway, "I hope you're not firing the chimp!"
See also
- List of individual apes
