Litigation: Family says chimp bite during filming of ‘Mowgli’s Story’ stunted young actor’s career.
June 08 ,1998, | HILARY E. MacGREGOR | LA TIMES STAFF WRITER
THOUSAND OAKS — Out of the wild comes an untold tale. . .
It’s not only “Mowgli’s Story,” Walt Disney’s soon-to-be released “Jungle Book” video.
It’s the stoiy of Tarzan, a chimp from Thousand Oaks, and Brandon Baker, a boy from Orange County who plays Mowgli in the video.
The 12-year-old was cavorting on the set in his loincloth when he was bitten in the face by the chimp. Instead of a sequence of jungle bonding, the result was a child actor with a permanent scar on his face. Two years later, Brandon still has not been able to land another job with as much status and prestige as his Mowgli role for Disney. He and his family claim that the reason why is the inch-long scar Tarzan left on his left cheek, so they have filed a lawsuit against the chimp’s trainers, agent and owner for damages.
He and his family claim that the reason why is the inch-long scar Tarzan left on his left cheek, so they have filed a lawsuit against the chimp’s trainers, agent and owner for damages.
“It creates a dent when he smiles,” Greg Herring, the Baker family’s attorney, said of Brandon’s scar. “It’s noticeable. And we believe it affects his career.”
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