Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong, who appears in the DK arcade games, the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, and in Donkey Kong 64. It is in these last four games that he is referred to as "Cranky Kong". He is so called because he complains a lot, usually about how he misses the simpler days of video games. (He's the type of character who breaks the fourth wall with reckless abandon.)

In the original Donkey Kong, he kidnapped the girl Pauline. Not about to take this, Mario saved her. In the 1982 follow-up, Donkey Kong Jr., it was Donkey Sr. who was kidnapped, and who else would have it been but Mario! Donkey Jr. made sure his old dad came out safely. In Donkey Kong 3, Stanley the Bugman tried to get rid of Donkey Kong, for whatever reason.

Starting in Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Sr. was called Cranky Kong. Because of this, Donkey Jr. dropped the "Jr." and started going by just plain "Donkey". Right around this time (1994, specifically), King K. Rool of the Kremling Krew sent his Kremling army to steal Donkey Kong's banana hoard. Donkey Kong, with his little buddy Diddy Kong, went to reclaim it. Cranky, meanwhile, gave them hints when they dropped by his cabin.

Donkey Kong Country 2 saw him play a similar role. This time, though, he let Diddy and Dixie Kong ask about specific levels in area instead of giving a hint about any random level.

In Donkey Kong Country 3, he served as Dixie and Kiddy Kong's opponent in the throwing game at Swanky's Sideshow.

In Donkey Kong 64, Cranky sold potions to the five playable Kongs (Donkey, Diddy, Chunky, Lanky, Tiny). Cranky also housed the Jetpac game, and would let you play it upon earning 15 Banana Medals (about three worlds' worth). Beating Jetpac earned you the Rareware Coin, which was required to beat the game.

Cranky made a small cameo appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and danced alongside Diddy Kong and King K. Rool in Donkey Konga. Cranky is set to re-appear in the Game Boy Advance game DK King of Swing, where he and his deceased wife Wrinkly Kong teach Donkey how to play the game.

Cranky was also a regular on the Donkey Kong Country animated series. He was still as senile as in the games, but without his fourth wall-destroying comments. His cabin was where the Crystal Coconut (not to be confused with the item of the same name in DK64, the mystical bauble that made DK the future ruler of Donkey Kong Island (called Kongo Bongo Island on the show), was kept. Often, Cranky mixed potions, somewhat prefiguring his DK64 role.

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