As a gamer who’s spent countless hours immersed in the world of retro television, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia upon hearing about the passing of Ron Ely. This tall, handsome Texan was more than just Tarzan to me; he was an icon, a symbol of adventure and bravery that captivated my young imagination.
86-year-old Ronald Ely, the rugged and charming Texan best known for his role as the TV’s original Tarzan, passed away according to his daughter, Kirsten, who spoke with Fox News Digital.
In addition to this, Ely temporarily replaced Bert Parks as the host of the Miss America pageant during 1980 and 1981. Simultaneously, he was in charge of a syndicated game show titled “Face the Music.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall, with striking blue eyes, Ely starred alongside Clint Walker in “The Night of the Grizzly” and Ursula Andress in “Once Before I Die,” both films released in 1966. It was during this time that he was chosen to wear a loincloth for a new NBC series produced by Sy Weintraub.
Following an unexpected departure of Mike Henry, a former NFL linebacker who portrayed Tarzan in three 1960s movies, Ely got offered the role after Henry was bitten by a chimpanzee and later filed a lawsuit alleging hazardous working conditions.
On a Monday, I sat down with some producers who presented an intriguing offer – the chance to play a character that seemed like a bear trap I didn’t want to step into. I remember thinking, ‘This is Tarzan? If I take this role, it will brand me for life.’ Little did I know! My agent persuaded me that this was a top-notch production and I should give it a shot. So, come Friday, I found myself boarding a plane to Brazil, ready to film the pilot episode.” This is how I recounted my experience in a 2013 interview.
Back in the swinging ’60s, I found myself immersed in an action-packed adventure series that began its journey in September of 1966. Filmed across Central America and Mexico, this show demanded quite a bit from me, as I was required to execute my own death-defying stunts during its two-season, 57-episode run.
Ely wasn’t upset when the series concluded in March 1968; instead, he expressed that he felt drained, both mentally and physically. He admitted that he was exhausted to such an extent that he would have needed several months to recuperate. His body was in a state of disrepair, with numerous muscle strains, tears, and fractured shoulders, wrists, and bones. Every part of him had sustained injuries.
In 1975, Ely took on the role of another renowned hero in the Warner Bros. film “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze,” which was both produced and co-written by George Pal. He felt optimistic about it, but a shift in leadership at the studio ultimately hindered the movie’s potential for success, according to him.
Ronald Ely, hailing from Hereford, Texas, was born on June 21, 1938. He completed his education at Amarillo High School in Texas in 1956. After that, he spent a year studying at the University of Texas, Austin. Subsequently, he moved to California.
He confessed that college was an alien environment for him, making him feel like he was running in place without getting anywhere. He explained this by sharing a story: a fraternity brother had once suggested that he consider acting in Los Angeles. Surprisingly, this idea resonated with him, so they began discussing it. Eventually, his curiosity led him to drive a car to San Jose and then hitchhike back to Los Angeles.
He made his screen debut playing a pilot in the 1958 film adaptation of South Pacific, then signed a contract with 20th Century Fox.
One year after, he attempted a kiss on Betty Anderson (Elinor Donahue) in an episode of Father Knows Best. He also portrayed the elder brother of Dwayne Hickman’s character during the pilot for The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Furthermore, he acted alongside Barbara Eden in the syndicated television adaptation of How to Marry a Millionaire.
Afterward, he became a key character on the 1960-61 CBS action show titled “The Aquanauts”. This program followed deep-sea explorers as they retrieved shipwrecks from the shores of Southern California’s coastline.
Following Tarzan, he took part in multiple films across Europe, reprised the role of Mike Nelson (originally played by Lloyd Bridges) on a 1987 revival of Sea Hunt, and appeared in various TV series such as The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Wonder Woman, L.A. Law, and Sheena.
Back in the ’90s, I took on the role of a retired Superman in “Superboy” and a big-game hunter in the syndicated series “Tarzan the Hunted”. Additionally, I penned down two captivating novels that revolved around the character of a private eye named Jake Sands.
On October 15th, 2019, his second spouse, Valerie Lundeen Ely (former Miss Florida), aged 62, was brutally murdered in their Santa Barbara-area residence by their son, Cameron, who was 30 at the time. Deputies encountered and fatally shot him outside the house following the incident.
Survivors include Kirsten and his other daughter, Kaitland.
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2024-10-23 23:55