The baby chimpanzee viewers will see on the Oct. 27 episode of the NBC television drama “ER” makes his home in Jefferson County.
Five-month-old Kenzy, who is featured on the television show, is one of 26 chimps who live at Missouri Primate Foundation on Hwy. CC in rural Festus. The non-profit facility is operated by Mike and Connie Casey, who also own Chimparty, a company that provides chimpanees for birthday parties, events and advertising or acting gigs such as Kenzy’s work on “ER.”
“They contacted us because they needed a baby for the scene,” Connie Casey said.
This is young Kenzy’s acting debut. The episode was filmed in September at studios in Los Angeles.
Before baby Kenzy arrived on the set, the Caseys sent in specific measurements and photos so a replica of the chimp could be made.
During the episode, the baby chimp arrives at the ER strapped in a car seat. Doctors decide to treat the baby, even though it’s not human. The chimp stays in the hospital several days.
During one of the scenes, the chimp gets an injection. In another scene, doctors use paddles to administer electric shock. The replica of the chimp was used for those types of medical scenes so the animal wouldn’t be harmed, Casey said.
Kenzy performed with the actors in scenes that included taking blood pressure and listening to his heart with a stethoscope and putting an oxygen mask on him.
Initially, Kenzy was supposed to be involved in three days of shooting for the television show.
“Everybody just fell in love with Kenzy,” Casey said. “Once they saw how sweet he was they started adding more scenes. It ended up being a five-day shoot.”
“One of the scenes had to do with him falling asleep. We were on set four hours waiting for him.”
She said an animal protection expert was on the set at all times to make sure Kenzy wasn’t in any danger or mistreated. In addition, she or Mike was also on the set with the chimp. “He was treated like a little king,” she said.
In the television show, baby Kenzy didn’t have to do any acting. But, Casey said, other chimps lodged at the foundation have been trained to do some actions.
“We usually say the chimp trains us,” Casey said. “They are very, very smart. Of course, some pick things up quicker than others. Some you just have to show one time. Others you have to show a couple times. You know the saying, ‘Monkey see, monkey do?” That kind of follows through.”
Festus chimps also are starring in a series of greeting cards by Hallmark and another series of greeting cards by American Greetings. The Hallmark series is called “Monkey Business.”
Three of Casey’s chimps posed for photographs for American Greetings about a year and a half ago. She said the series of cards has proved so popular the chimps were invited back for a second photo shoot.
10-year-old Connor is appearing in a television commercial for Motorola.
And 5-year-old Hannah will soon make her modeling debut. She is scheduled to appear in the December or January issue of “Glamour” magazine in an article about weight loss.
She will also appear in an upcoming issue of “GQ” magazine in a photo with actor Vince Vaughn.
The job-finding Web company careerbuilder.com has used some of the Casey’s chimps for corporate personal appearances. The chimps on the company’s television commercials aren’t from Festus.
Connie Casey has been caring for chimpanzees and other monkeys since 1972, when she got her first chimp, Coco.
The oldest chimp at the facility is Tony, who is 45. “She came from Florida and was passed around and around. She was in some pretty sorry conditions,“ Casey said. “She lived her first 20 years of life in a very small cage. Her growth is stunted because of it.”
Casey said the chimp is enjoying her stay in Festus with the other chimpanzees, many of whom are retired from public appearances.
The youngest chimp is Ebony. She is three months old and was born at the facility, which includes indoor and outdoor accommodations.
Some of Chimparty’s proceeds go to keep the foundation open.
“Most of our support for the animals comes through private birthday parties, school assemblies and nursing home visits,” Casey said.
The youngest chimps go on the school visits.
“Everybody falls in love with them,” Casey said.
“Since Kenzy has been gone, little Ebony has been traveling. She’s like a little baby doll.”
A chimpanzee can live up to 60 years in captivity.
Casey owned a pet shop at the same location, which she closed in 1979. “We kept the primates and started taking in retired performing animals and those abused. We make sure they are taken care of.”
ER airs at 9 p.m. (CST) Thursdays on NBC.
Click to read past Leader coverage on the events that led to "Chimp Crazy."
