<P> Daniel Richter (born 1939 in Darien, Connecticut) is an American mime and actor . He is remembered as playing the leader of a tribe of ape - men in 2001: A Space Odyssey . </P> <P> At the time of his casting in 2001, Richter was unknown, working mainly as a street mime, leading a troupe in London . Kubrick made him largely responsible for choreographing the "Dawn of Man" sequence, believing Richter could take the film away from Hollywood clichés of men in monkey suits . Richter and his troupe spent hours watching apes in the London zoo, particularly the especially popular Guy the Gorilla, followed by hours of rehearsal mimicking their movements . Following 2001, Richter made an appearance in the film The Revolutionary . In 2002, Richter published a book about his experiences entitled Moonwatcher's Memoir: A Diary of 2001: A Space Odyssey . </P>

Who played the apes in 2001 a space odyssey