Actor Ron Ely, Known for Tarzan and Doc Savage, Passes Away | Entertainment News

Ron Ely, who portrayed Tarzan in the 1960s TV series, has passed away at the age of 86.

His daughter Kirsten Casale Ely confirmed that the actor died at his residence in Los Alamos, California on 29 September.

The 6’4″ tall, muscular actor played a significant role in shaping the modern image of Tarzan, a character created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs in the early 20th century.

He also starred as the titular character in the 1975 action film “Doc Savage: The Man Of Bronze.”

During interviews, Ely revealed that he performed his own stunts on Tarzan and worked closely with the tigers, chimpanzees, and other animals that interacted with the character.

“They initially considered casting a former American football player named Mike Henry, but he had a fear of chimpanzees, which led to Ely stepping in as a last-minute replacement,” Ely recalled in a 2013 interview with the Daily Express.

Ely shared the challenges he faced before taking on the role of Tarzan and how he ultimately embraced the opportunity to be part of the show.

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Family tragedy

In 2019, Ely’s wife Valerie Lundeen Ely was tragically stabbed to death at their residence in Santa Barbara, California, by their son Cameron Ely, who was later shot and killed by the police.

An autopsy on Cameron, a former college American Football star, revealed the presence of CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head injuries.

Ely challenged the report stating that his son’s shooting was justified.

Ely continued to appear in various TV and film roles, authored two detective novels, and hosted the Miss America beauty pageant twice.

He retired in 2001 to prioritize spending time with his family.

He is survived by his daughters, Kirsten Casale Ely and Kaitland Ely Sweet.