Animal trainer Gebel-Williams dies

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Gunther Gebel-Williams, the world-renowned circus animal trainer, died of cancer Thursday at his home in Venice, Florida.

He was 66 years old and had been undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, a spokeswoman for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said.

"Whether he was working with tigers, leopards, elephants, horses, or a giraffe, you immediately knew that he was special, because his incredible rapport with animals was unsurpassed," said Kenneth Feld, chairman of Feld Entertainment and a friend.

"Gunther knew the mind of the animal, and he taught us all to love and respect all living things. He set a standard for performing which will be almost impossible to match."

The daring young man had worked since 1969 at Ringling Bros., training and presenting horses, elephants, tigers, leopards, lions, panthers, mountain lions, a giraffe, goats, zebras and a rare white tiger. He entertained an estimated 200 million people in person, the circus said. During his American performing career, he never missed one of more than 12,000 performances. Born in Schweidnitz, Germany, in 1934, Gebel-Williams was introduced to circus life at 12 after convincing his mother to join Circus Williams as a wardrobe assistant.

Though she left the circus soon after, he stayed on, cared for by Harry and Carola Williams. He became a stunt rider in his early teens.

In 1952, Harry Williams died and Carola gave 18-year-old Gunther the job of running the circus and, in a symbol of affection, her last name. Under his leadership, the circus thrived. In 1968, Ringling Bros.' owner Irvin Feld bought Circus Williams for $2 million to get Gebel-Williams to work for his circus. That year, he married Sigrid Neubauer, a fashion model.

He made his first appearance with the Venice, Florida-based circus the following year.

Gebel-Williams' fame peaked in 1977 when he became the first circus performer to headline his own network television special. That year, he made an American-Express television commercial -- a leopard draped over his shoulders -- that helped cement his celebrity. After he retired from the ring in 1990, he took a management position as vice president of animal care for the circus.

"This is a great loss for everyone not just our family," his family said in a statement. "Thankfully, he taught us many lessons about love and respect for all living things that we will carry with us forever."

After Gebel-Williams withdrew from the ring, his son, Mark Oliver Gebel, took his spot. Last year, Gebel-Williams underwent surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor.

Last May, he underwent a second round of surgery.

Private memorial services will be conducted Sunday morning by and for each touring troupe of Ringling Bros. Funeral services are to be held Tuesday in Venice, Florida.