<Tr> <Th> Created by </Th> <Td> Pierre Boulle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Portrayed by </Th> <Td> Roddy McDowall David Watson </Td> </Tr> <P> Dr. Cornelius is a chimpanzee archaeologist and historian who appears in the original novel of Planet of the Apes (La Planète des singes), and also the first three installments of the classic movie series of the same name, from the 1960s and 1970s . He was portrayed by Roddy McDowall and, in the second movie, by David Watson . </P> <P> In 1968's Planet of the Apes, Cornelius is introduced as the fiancé of Dr. Zira, an animal psychologist and veterinarian (who specializes in working with humans), both of whom are on the scientific staff of Dr. Zaius . While supporting the status quo, Cornelius has begun to question the infallibility of the Sacred Scrolls, which give the religious and mythological history of the ape society, and is considering the validity of evolution (specifically, from human to ape) to explain the scientific gaps in the scrolls . </P>

Who played cornelius on planet of the apes