Herkermer Homolka

Herkermer Homolka was a Romanian socialite, self-proclaimed philanthropist, con-artist, and adventurer of the 20th century. Homolka achieved infamy in Sub-Saharan Africa for his insolvency and his taking part in disastrous expeditions for the Lost City of Zinj, and the fabled diamond mines of King Solomon.
Five years after a disastrous expedition into the Congo in which three of his fellow explorers died of exposure, and one of apparent suicide, Homolka attended a lecture at the University of California, Berkeley held by Dr. Peter Elliott. Elliott was demonstrating newly developed technology that allowed his sign-language speaking gorilla, Amy, to speak with a vocalisation software. After discovering that Eliott intended to return Amy to the jungle where she had been born, Homolka volunteered to fund the voyage and return her to the Virunga Mountains. After encountering issues with his finances, the trip was saved by the intervention of Karen Ross, secretly working on behalf of TraviCom.
== Biography ==
=== Youth ===
As a young man in Soviet Georgia, Homolka found an old book containing a detailed drawing of the city of Zinj. The drawing featured the memorable symbol of an open eye. Homolka would later find a ring while on safari featuring the same symbol, and years after that, noticed the same symbol in a painting made by the gorilla Amy. (FILM: Congo)
== Notes ==
=== Behind the Scenes ===
* Homolka was portrayed by English actor Tim Curry.Congo - IMDB - Retrieved 27 November 2021Tim Curry - IMDB - Retrieved 27 November 2021
* Roger Ebert enjoyed Curry's performance, positively stating that Curry had the "Peter Lorre role".Congo - Roger Ebert - 9 June 1995 - RogerEbert.com - Retrieved 27 November 2021
=== References ===
* The line delivered by Captain Wanta to Homolka, "Stop eating my sesame cake", became an internet meme and is considered to be the most famous line of the film."Stop Eating My Sesame Cake!": Delroy Lindo Revisits His Unforgettable Scene in 'Congo' - Perri Nemiroff - 2 March 2021 - Collider - Retrieved 27 November 2021
== Appearances ==
* Congo (first and final appearance)
== References ==
Category:Humans
Category:Murderers
Category:Businessmen
Category:Criminals
Category:Philanthropists
Category:Heroes
Category:Villains
Category:Adventurers
Category:Explorers
Category:Seekers of Zinj
Category:Characters played by Tim Curry
Category:Romanian characters
Category:Film characters
Category:Deceased Characters
Category:Characters killed by gorillas
Category:Con-artists
Category:Racists
Category:20th century deaths