Buck up and bear it! With Geoffrey ‘Anto’ Deuel
Simian Scrolls Issue 18
Click here to view the original interview and see pictures as published.
Thanks to Lee Parmerter, we managed to contact Mr Deuel via his lovely wife, Jacqueline, who very kindly offered to undertake the interview on behalf of ‘Simian Scrolls.’ Mr. Deuel is an extremely private person and very rarely accepts interview requests. In Jacqueline’s words : “As you’ll see, Geoffrey is a man of few words.”
Enjoy this rare chat ….. with our very own ‘Anto’!
Did you discover acting or did acting discover you?
I think what ‘became acting’ was when I was a kid in grade school clowning around and my peers laughed at my actions and it was like applause… so I continued to seek it out!
How did you come to play ‘Anto’ in ‘The Good Seeds’?
The usual way. My agent submitted me for the role and the producers chose me.
Don Weis directed the episode, what was he like to work with?
Don was extremely professional, creative, and very nice to work with.
Some have said that Episode 4 [‘The Good Seeds’] was actually the very first episode filmed… can this be confirmed or denied?
It may have been, but I am not certain. It was, with the birth of the heifer, etc, a cornerstone to the series!
Were there any problems with sets or make up?
I didn’t experience any problems with the make-up, but the process took 4 hours before the call to the set—which was on location in Topanga Canyon.
Anto has quite an emotional journey during the episode. Do you recall your thought processes behind delivering such a powerful performance?
I have had some emotional journeys in my life and may have just reached back and brought those to my acting process.
Did the make up cause you any problems?
Yes, certainly a touch of claustrophobia—but no skin problems.
For the scene where ‘Anto’ steps under the shower to demonstrate ‘his’ invention, did extra precautions have to be taken to make the appliances waterproof?
No, we just stayed far enough away from the shower and used a clever TV camera angle to “sell” the shot.
Your co-star who played Jillia [Eileen Dietz] has previously told us that a big problem for her was her “sweaty feet” inside those ape shoes! Was it unbearably hot for the ‘chimp’ actors out on the Ranch?
Yes, the weather was extremely hot! Summer in Southern California and you would perspire and itch and become kind of screwy. You just bucked up and bore it.
The Polar family [Lonny Chapman, Jacqueline Scott, Bobby Porter & Eileen] feels like a close-knit unit. Did the ‘family’ have much time to get to know each other before and during filming?
Not really… but, everyone was extremely gracious and professional and by the time we had finished we felt a bit like a family.
Did you interact with Roddy McDowall at all?
I spoke to him once, but didn’t get much of a reply!
Did you have much time with the ‘human’ actors—Ron Harper and James Naughton?
Yes, I worked with them and again they were very nice. I came to find out later on [some 40 years later] that my wife’s boss roommate in college was James Naughton!
Was there a sense that this was going to be a big show? It was big budget production for the time!
I have no idea actually. Production values were good, but you never know when you are filming a pilot for a TV series. No viewers—no series!
Did you keep any souvenirs or photos from your appearance in Apes?
No, not that I could find. I wish I had some!
Do you recall any tales from your time on the show and are you surprised that Apes fans still, to this very day, talk about ‘Anto’?
No tales that I can recall. Am I surprised? Yes, as a matter of fact I am, but actually when I think about it… no, because ultimately nothing fans do surprises me.
Mr. Deuel, thank you very much indeed!
You’re very welcome.
© DEAN PRESTON / SIMIAN SCROLLS
