Tarzan, the 1999 film, still has an impact on people who first saw the exploits of our jungle lad on the big screen twenty years ago. Fans enjoy both Tarzan and Terk for their endearing personalities and their shared love of the forest and its inhabitants.
Nonetheless, many wonder if Terk is a male or female and who voices the popular figure. Rosie O’Donnell, who is most known for her role as Rita Hendricks in The Fosters, lends her voice to the character of Terk in Tarzan. Moreover, Terk is a female gorilla whose gender was converted from male to female after hearing O’Donell’s stellar performance in the tryouts.
Who Did Terk’s Voice in the 1999 Tarzan Movie?
Due in large part to Walt Disney’s gorgeous animation and the story’s realistic approach to the characters’ natures, Tarzan, which was released in 1999, is one of the most popular animated pictures of the 2000s. Terk was a wonderful addition because he is not only a clever gorilla but also a compassionate animal who had strong feelings for the main character, Tarzan.
In addition, this jovial gorilla is linked to Kerchak and Kala, Tarzan’s adoptive parents, and is therefore Terk’s adoptive cousin. If you’re unfamiliar with Rosie O’Donnell’s work, she also voiced Townie on American Dad and the Octopus Masseuse on The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, in addition to her role as Terk in the 1999 film.
Take a look at the below tweet about who voiced Terek from Tarzan:
rosie o’donnell is a queer woman who voiced Terk in Tarzan, one of Disney’s most successful films. pic.twitter.com/BZ0dNxkn0R
— josh beames | character designer for hire (@beames_josh) March 7, 2022
However, she did not return to voice Terk in subsequent animation films associated with the franchise, maybe because the stories were so different. Both April Winchell (Dalmatians: The Series) and Brenda Gate (Providence) provided their voices for Terk in the films Tarzan & Jane (2002) and Tarzan 2: The Legend Begins (2005).
After the popularity of the film, two video games were developed and released in 1999 and 2001. Audrey Wasilewski (Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends) provided the voice of Terk in both Tarzan and Tarzan Untamed.
You can also take a look at below posts provided:
- Super Mario Bros Movie Characters and Voice Actors
- Why Did Korvos Voice Change In Solar Opposites Season 4?
Is Terk a Male or Female Character in Tarzan?
Fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s original Tarzan of the Apes novel series will recognize Terk, the main ape character, as a male in the film adaptation. But Terk, Tarzan’s best buddy, is a female gorilla with a tomboyish disposition, which makes for a fascinating character.
Terk was originally cast as a male gorilla to avoid misleading novel readers, but after hearing Rose O’Donnell’s audition tape, the producers decided to change their minds. So, they decided to rewrite the script with Terk as a female character, and the move was a huge success, winning over female and male viewers alike.
Take a look at below tweet:
Since I was a kid, I always read Terk as a queer character in Tarzan, and you can’t tell me otherwise. pic.twitter.com/76lo4Vh8vg
— Sweeney Boo @NYCC (@Sweeney_Boo) January 18, 2023
In addition, the film’s portrayal of Terk, who was not a likable character in the books but was murdered by Tarzan after he kidnapped Jane, was a major departure from the source material.
You can join us on our Twitter account to know more details relating to other voice actors who gave voice to one of your favorite characters.