Dr. Zaius

Dr. Zaius was a fictional character in the novel and movies Planet of the Apes. He was an intelligent, evolved primate like the rest of his brethren and was the main antagonist of the story. Zaius was portrayed in the first and second movies by actor Maurice Evans, and in the later television series by Booth Coleman.

Related Topics:
Planet of the Apes - Maurice Evans - Booth Coleman

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Zaius served a dual role in the movies, as Minister of Science in charge of advancing ape knowledge—and also as Chief Defender of the Faith, with access to ancient scrolls and other information not given to the ape masses. Zaius knows the true origins of the ape society, how mankind fell as the dominant species, and the reasons why the Forbidden Zone is so regarded... and blames human nature for it all. Zaius prefers a stagnant, imperfect, faith-based ape culture that keeps humans in check, to the open, scientific, human-curious one proposed by Cornelius and Zira's generation, while the idea of an intelligent human (such as Taylor) threatening the balance of things frightens him deeply. Knowing the destruction humanity (with the aid of technology) caused in its downfall, he doesn't want even the possibility of a resurgence.

Related Topics:
Cornelius - Zira - Taylor

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At the end of the first movie, Zaius has Cornelius's archaeological findings (human artifacts, predating the ape society) destroyed, and him and Zira arrested on heresy charges. By the second movie (Beneath the Planet of the Apes), Cornelius recalls how Zaius brought them to trial, but then moved for clemency on their behalf. When Zaius leaves on a military expedition with General Ursus to explore the Forbidden Zone, Zaius trusts them both to continue his work. (In the novel version of Beneath, they instead begin a revolt, once the gorilla army is gone.)

Related Topics:
Heresy - Beneath the Planet of the Apes - Clemency - General Ursus

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During the third movie (Escape from the Planet of the Apes) Cornelius relates how he learned the truth about humans and apes from reading secret scrolls. It is presumed that he had access to these while working for Dr. Zaius (or after his departure), or perhaps was granted access by Zaius as a consolation for the loss of his archaeological work.

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In the television series, Zaius serves as a government official, with authority over all the humans in his district. The young chimpanzee Galen becomes his new assistant, but winds up a fugitive with two human astronauts, fleeing from Zaius and his enforcer, General Urko.

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Recently, Dr. Zaius has experienced a small popularity surge.

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• In The Simpsons episode 3F15, A Fish Called Selma, Dr. Zaius was featured prominently in a song in a musical version of Planet of the Apes. The song is a parody of Rock Me Amadeus by Falco.
• Dr. Zaius has appeared on various YTMND sites (usually involving footage and/or audio from the above example).
• Dr. Zaius was the name of a ska band that performed in Washington, DC from 1999 through 2001.