Updated: September 27, 2020

Complete Roddy McDowall "Roddy 1" Cornelius costume mounted on a custom display with lifelike figure. (TCF, 1968) This complete Roddy McDowall "Roddy 1" Cornelius costume is arguably the most important Planet of the Apes costume of all.

This was the first Roddy Cornelius costume ever made - it was the prototype created in the Twentieth Century Fox wardrobe department and thus has Fox tags, not Western Costume tags as found in virtually every other costume. All of the other chimp costumes were fabricated at Western from this prototype.

Additionally, the collar is made of leatherette, not leather, with a distinctive pattern that can be seen throughout the Apes films and TV series in which it appeared. This was Roddy's favorite costume, and its history encompasses the entire Apes saga. It was made for Planet of the Apes, then worn by actor David Watson (who replaced Roddy as Cornelius) in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, then worn by Roddy as Cornelius in Escape From the Planet of the Apes and as Caesar in Battle for the Planet of the Apes. Later, Roddy chose to wear this costume when he played Galen throughout the entire Planet of the Apes TV series - the costume appears in every episode and publicity still of Roddy's character, Galen.

This costume is indeed a very unique piece of Planet of the Apes history, having been used in virtually every incarnation of the original Apes films and TV series. The costume is currently mounted on a flexible mannequin with a stunning silicon head of Cornelius (made using appliances from Roddy's mold), prosthetics grade glass eyes and hand punched human hair.

Value: $25,000 - $35,000

(*) Photos and text courtsey of Profiles in History!