Foster (played by Tony Danza) is a protagonist in Going Ape!.
Foster is a struggling slacker and the only member of his circus family to leave that life. After inheriting his father's estate conditionally, he must care for three orangutans while trying to win back his girlfriend Cynthia and impress her mother Fiona. He also leads efforts to protect the apes from assassins. Fiona (played by Jessica Walter) is a protagonist in Going Ape!.
Fiona is Cynthia's high-society mother, whom Foster hopes to impress as he tries to repair his relationship with Cynthia. Her connection to the central conflict is through Foster's attempt to regain social and personal acceptance while his inherited orangutans and the threat against them disrupt his life. Cynthia (played by Stacey Nelkin) appears in Going Ape!.
Cynthia is Foster's disgruntled girlfriend, and he attempts to win her back after inheriting the unusual responsibility of caring for three orangutans. Her relationship with Foster provides a personal subplot alongside his struggle to protect the apes and manage the upheaval caused by his inheritance. Lazlo (played by Danny DeVito) appears in Going Ape!.
Lazlo is the deceased owner's manservant and protégé, and Foster inherits his services along with the orangutans. His arrival helps transform Foster's life as the new caretaker faces the practical and dangerous consequences of the inheritance, including the assassins targeting the apes.
Going Ape! (1981) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Foster
(played by Tony Danza) — protagonist
Foster is a struggling slacker and the only member of his circus family to leave that life. After inheriting his father's estate conditionally, he must care for three orangutans while trying to win ba...
Fiona
(played by Jessica Walter) — protagonist
Fiona is Cynthia's high-society mother, whom Foster hopes to impress as he tries to repair his relationship with Cynthia. Her connection to the central conflict is through Foster's attempt to regain s...
Cynthia
(played by Stacey Nelkin) — supporting
Cynthia is Foster's disgruntled girlfriend, and he attempts to win her back after inheriting the unusual responsibility of caring for three orangutans. Her relationship with Foster provides a personal...
Lazlo
(played by Danny DeVito) — supporting
Lazlo is the deceased owner's manservant and protégé, and Foster inherits his services along with the orangutans. His arrival helps transform Foster's life as the new caretaker faces the practical and...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Foster → Lazlo
(Professional Inherited Servant)
Foster inherits the services of Lazlo, who is described as his father's manservant and protégé.
Foster → Cynthia
(Romantic Girlfriend)
The plot identifies Cynthia as Foster's disgruntled girlfriend, whom he attempts to win back.
Cynthia → Fiona
(Family Mother)
The plot describes Fiona as Cynthia's high-society mother.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Foster → Fiona
(Social Potential Son-In-Law)
Foster attempts to impress Fiona while trying to win back her daughter Cynthia.
Story Analysis
A reluctant heir learns responsibility while protecting inherited orangutans from a scheme designed to claim the estate.
Plot Progression
The Reluctant Heir
A House Full of Apes
Seeking Social Approval
The Inheritance Trap
Saving the Primates
Directed by Jeremy Joe Kronsberg
Going Ape! (1981) · 4.5/10 · comedy, crime, family
