The actor who played ‘Tarzan’ passed away

LOS ALAMOS, Calif. — Actor Ron Ely, best known for his starring role on the 1960s NBC series “Tarzan,” has died. He was 86 years old.

Ely died Sept. 29 at his home in Los Alamos, California, his daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, announced Wednesday.

“The world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known; and I have lost my father,” Kirsten wrote. Instagram post.

Born June 21, 1938, in Hereford, Texas, Ely — pronounced EE-lee — was a tall, muscular actor who had his first acting success in 1958 in the World War II film “South Pacific.” Ely rose to fame as an actor in the 1960s. Supporting actor in the television comedy series “Father Knows Best”, “How to Marry a Millionaire” and “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis”.

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In 1966, Ely took the lead role in “Tarzan,” which ran for 57 episodes over two seasons. He performed almost all of the shows himself; This resulted in two broken shoulders, two lion bites and a torn back muscle. New York Times.

“I was mentally and physically worn out,” Ely said of “Tarzan” during a concert. 2013 interview with Profile of Alan Mercer. “I needed at least a few months to recover. My body was a wreck. I suffered so many muscle strains and tears that I broke my shoulders, wrists, and bones. I was hurt everywhere. I’m paying the price today, as I gradually get out of bed.”

Following “Tarzan,” Ely starred as the title character in “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze” in 1975. He also appeared in an episode of the TV series “Wonder Woman” and “Superboy” and also hosted the game show “Face”. The Music” for two seasons in 1980 and 1981.

Ely took a break from acting in the 1990s to spend more time with her family and raise her young children. He appeared in an episode of “Sheena” in 2001 before receiving his final acting credit in the TV movie “Expecting Amish” in 2014.

In October 2019, Ely’s wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely, stabbed to death in their home In Santa Barbara, California, the couple’s son, Cameron, was shot and killed by police who arrived at the scene. In 2020, the Ely family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Santa Barbara sheriff’s office, claiming officers unnecessarily shot and killed Cameron. The jury decided in 2022 that the police acted in self-defense.

Ely is survived by his daughters Kirsten and Kaitland Sweet and two grandchildren.