Simon MacCorkindale

Simon MacCorkindale starred as Dr. Jonathan Chase in the 1983 American action-adventure television series, Manimal. Dr. Chase is depicted as a wealthy, handsome, and cerebral English professor of animal behavioural sciences at New York University. He inherited from his father the unique ability to transform into any animal he chooses, a secret known only to a few close associates.

Dr. Chase utilises his shape-shifting powers to help the police solve crimes, often transforming into a black panther or a hawk, though he has demonstrated the capacity to become a wide variety of creatures, including a shark. The transformations were a notable aspect of the show, created using practical effects and prosthetics by Stan Winston. A curious detail of his transformations was the miraculous reappearance of his clothing once he reverted to human form.

MacCorkindale reprised his role as Dr. Jonathan Chase in a 1998 episode of the television series Night Man, which incorporated computer-generated imagery for the transformation sequences. The character of Dr. Chase is central to the Manimal universe, representing a unique blend of scientific intellect and mystical abilities dedicated to fighting crime.