Jane Goodall's Life and Career in Photos (2025)

Jane Goodall's Early Years

Jane Goodall was born on April 3, 1934. Her love of animals was apparent from a young age, and she looked up to the likes of Dr. Dolittle as a child. She always dreamed of visiting Africa and managed to do so at the age of 23 after saving up her money, per National Geographic.

Jane Goodall Begins Her Work with Chimps

On July 14, 1960, Goodall began her tenure working at Gombe Stream Game Reserve (now Gombe National Park) in Tanzania, where she would meet — and name — the first chimp she connected with, David Greybeard.

During her time on the reserve she made groundbreaking observations including the fact that chimps communicate like and have personalities like humans and both use and make their own tools.

Her early years at Gombe National Park were documented in the 1965 special Miss Goodall and the World of Chimpanzees.

Jane Goodall Gets Married

Goodall married photographer and filmmaker Baron Hugo van Lawick in 1964 after meeting in Tanzania. The two were married for 10 years and welcomed one son together, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick, in 1967.

Following her divorce from van Lawick, Goodall married Tanzanian parks director Derek Bryceson in 1975; he died just five years later at 46.

Jane Goodall Becomes a Mom

Goodall welcomed her first and only son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick— named after his father — in 1967. It's no surprise that from an early age, Hugo, nicknamed "Grub," had a hands-on experience with wildlife.

He is seen here with his mom in 1973 filming the ABC special The Wild Dogs of Africa.

Jane Goodall Becomes an Activist

Amid her remarkable studies in Africa, Goodall began a doctoral program at Cambridge University despite not having her undergraduate degree and in 1966 earned her Ph.D. Twenty years later, Goodall would leave Tanzania to pursue work as an activist.

"I had to leave what I loved in order to do what I could to save what I loved,”she explained told PEOPLE in 2010.

In 1985, she was named as honorary chairman of the World Wildlife Fund's new campaign to help save the world's primates.

Jane Goodall's Initiatives

In addition to the establishment of the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, her wildlife conservation efforts have spread far and wife including the youth program Roots & Shoots.

At a 2019 Roots & Shoots meeting, Goodall was greeted by Prince Harry — whom she has met on numerous occasions through their shared interest in environmental causes — who reenacted a “Chimpanzee Greeting” she taught him when they first met.

Jane Goodall's Stuffed Animal Mr. H

Over the last three decades, Goodall has often been accompanied by a monkey stuffed animal who was even with her at the White House when she accepted her Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 2019, CNBC reported that Mr. H had been traveling with Goodall for nearly 30 years after it was first gifted to her by magician Gary Haun.

Huan, who is blind, thought the gift was a chimpanzee rather than a monkey, and when Goodall pointed out the difference between the two animals, the magician told her to take the gift regardless.

“He said, ‘Never mind. Take him with you, and you know my spirit’s with you.’ So he symbolizes the indomitable human spirit,” she told the outlet of the stuffed companion who has traveled with her to more than 60 countries.

Jane Goodall's Barbie Doll

Ahead of World Chimpanzee Day in 2022, Mattel announced they'd be releasing a Jane Goodall Barbie doll made of 90 percent recycled plastic.

At the time, Goodall told PEOPLE that she was "absolutely delighted" by the news and that it was something she'd long hoped for.

And of course, each doll came with a mini replica of David Greybeard from her early days at Gombe National Park in Tanzania.

Jane Goodall's Family

Goodall's son Hugo made his mom a grandmother in 2000.

Here, three generations of the Goodall/ van Lawickfamily, including grandson Nick, pose together at a 2018 screening of the documentary Jane.

Jane Goodall's Continued Bond with Chimps

Into her 80s — and now 90s — Goodall has continued activism work and of course has still had some face to face with her favorite animals. Here, she's seen visiting a chimp rescue center in Entebbe, Uganda.

“I’m gradually starting to realize this impact is bigger than I ever could have dreamed it would be,” she told PEOPLE in 2017. “When you’re brought into this life you’re given certain gifts and you have to use them.”

Jane Goodall and Leonardo DiCaprio

Goodall has crossed paths with Leonardo DiCaprio on various occasions over the years through his own environmental activism.

Here, the two greeted each other during the United Nations General Assembly in 2016. More recently it was announced that the pair would be co-executive producing the movie Howl — a live-action movie about an abandoned dog and young wolf, from the perspective of both animals.

For her 90th birthday last year, the Oscar winner paid tribute to Goodall writing on Instagram: "Today, my great friend Dr. Jane Goodall celebrates her 90th birthday. Dr. Goodall is known for groundbreaking studies of wild Chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, which forever changed our understanding of our relationship to the rest of the animal kingdom. This transformative research continues today as the longest running wild Chimpanzee study in the world."

Jane Goodall is Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Before his time in the White House came to an end, President Joe Biden awarded Goodall with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The January 2025 ceremony and saw the likes ofMichael J. Fox,Denzel WashingtonandHillary Clinton also receive the high honor.

Goodall has received an assortment of prestigious awards over the years including becoming Dame Commander of the Order of theBritish Empire(DBE) in 2004 and becoming the 2021 Templeton Prize Laureate recipient.

Jane Goodall Today

Last year around her birthday, Goodall told PEOPLE that she was "busier than ever,” explaining: “I feel that I was put on this planet with a mission.”

When she's not traveling — which she does 300 days a year — she lives at home with her younger sister Judy Goodall in their childhood home in England.

On her 91st birthday it was announced that Goodall would be making a special appearance onApple TV+'s Jane — which is inspired by her work and is returning for its third season later this month.

With Mr. H in tow, Goodall is seen here in November 2024 during visit to the Museum of Solution in Mumbai, India as part of her Hope Global Tour.