Ron Ely, the actor famed for his portrayal of Tarzan in the 1960s television series, has died at the age of 86.
His daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, announced his passing in an emotional Instagram post, reflecting on her father’s impact: “My dad was one of the greatest men the world has ever known.”
Ely starred in the NBC series Tarzan, which aired from 1966 to 1968. During filming, he faced numerous challenges, including sustaining injuries and dealing with animal attacks while performing his own stunts.
Despite these hurdles, his charismatic presence made him a beloved figure in television history.
After retiring from acting in 2001, Ely pursued a career as an author, publishing two mystery novels. He made a brief return to the screen in 2014 with the TV film ‘Expecting Amish’, where he played an Amish elder.
In addition to his iconic role as ‘Tarzan‘, Ely appeared in popular shows during the 1980s, including ‘The Love Boat’ and ‘Wonder Woman’, alongside Lynda Carter.
Born in Texas in 1938, Ely married his high school sweetheart in 1959, but the marriage ended in divorce two years later. He later met Valerie Lundeen while hosting the Miss America pageant in the early 1980s; the couple had three children together.
Tragically, Lundeen was murdered by their son, Cameron, in 2019, leading to Cameron being shot by police after he threatened them. Ely subsequently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the police, but the court ruled that the officers acted in self-defense.
Ron Ely passed away at his home in Los Alamos, Santa Barbara, California, on September 29. His daughter paid tribute to him, stating, “To me, he hung the moon.”
