User:Benjaminterwin/Bear (Chimpanzee friend of B.J. McKay)

"Bear" The Chimpanzee is a fictional character on the the TV show "B.J. and the Bear" which ran on NBC from 1979-81. Bear was named after legendary Alabama Football coach Bear Bryant and wore a pork pie hat and overalls. Bear was portrayed by Sam the Chimp, with a stand-in of Jimmy The Chimp. It is unknown if Sam or Jimmy are still alive.

Bear was the companion of truck driver B.J. McKay played by Greg Evigan. Bear and B.J. met in Vietnam when B.J. was a P.O.W. Later, Bear returned home with B.J. who became in independent truck driver and together they would traverse the country in their big red semi tractor trailer rig.

Bear was celebrated in the show's theme song, as B.J.'s best friend.

Later life and Death

Sam also went on to work in other movies and TV shows, after his stint on BJ. Sam is owned by trainer Marvin Downey. Marvin says he knew Sam would be a "star", because of his great personality and his almost-human looking eyes. Sam lived out his remaining years at Mr. Downey's animal compound. Unfortunately, Sam succumbed to a form of kidney failure in the early 1990's at the age of 15. But I am sure all of us will always remember him as the beer drinking, donut eating, "fuzzy" sidekick of BJ McKay.