"Planet Of The Apes" Star Natalie Trundy Passes Away At 79-Years-Old

Jan 07, 2020

Natalie Trundy star of the “Planet of the Apes” franchise has passed away at the age of 79. The actress passed away on Sunday in Los Angeles. She is remembered for her roles across broadway and movie screens.

Trundy’s daughter, Alessandra Sabato confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter that the actress passed away from natural causes. 

Trundy was born in Boston before getting her start on Broadway in 1953 for the show “A Girl Can Tell.” She starred alongside Marlene Dietrich and Vittorio De Sica in “The Montecarlo Story” in 1956 and went on to perform in “Girls of Summer” with Shelley Winters. 

In 1957, Trundy and Dean Stockwell starred in "The Careless Years" together directed by Arthur Hiller. Trundy went on to appear in T.V. shows such as "Climax!," "Thriller," "Bonanza" and "The Twilight Zone."

Trundy met her second husband Arthur P. Jacobs, an agent, during filming for “The Montecarlo Story.” Jacobs went on to produce the "Planet of the Apes" movies. Trundy believes she got her roles in the films because of nepotism. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she told Jacobs, "I wanna be in [the first sequel], and I was. All of them, from then on!"

Trundy starred in the first film after getting married to Jacobs, "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (1970). She then went on to take the roles as Dr. Stephanie "Stevie" Branton in "Escape From Planet of the Apes" (1971) and the chimpanzee Lisa in "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" (1972) and "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" (1973). In total the actress was cast in 4 out of the 5 "Planet of the Apes" sequels. 

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