Phillip Paley became a cult icon in 1974 with his role in Land of the Lost. Portraying Cha-Ka— a creature embodying the extinct Paranthropus apes— Paley gained a large following. Much of his mystique and appeal came from the secrets of what he actually looked like out of costume.
While his role as Cha-Ka was his greatest and most known, Paley featured in a handful of films and tv afterward. Let’s see what he got up to after ’76.
Minimal Acting Career Post-‘Land of the Lost’
After his two-year run as Cha-Ka on Land of the Lost, Phillip Paley rarely returned back to the big screen. In 1988, Paley starred in Roger Corman’s teen comedy, Beach Balls.
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In addition to his 1988 film, the actor featured in an episode of Airwolf in 1985 and multiple interviews and commentary on Land of the Lost.
Most recently, Phillip Paley voiced a character in the 2020 film, The Last Page of Summer.
Fun Facts About Phillip Paley
At only nine years old, Phillip Paley achieved a black belt in karate and frequently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. This is where he first was discovered for his role as Cha-Ka.
Phillip Paley holds a BA in English from the University of California and frequents Comic-Con. Otherwise, he is very private and not much is known about him these days!