Ron Ely, who portrayed the intelligent Tarzan in the eponymous series, is dead at 86. He died at his daughter Kirsten’s home in California on September 29, 2024, though she didn’t announce his death until October.
“The world has lost one of the greatest men,” she shared on Instagram. Kirsten went on to describe her father’s impact when he was alive without mentioning the cause of his death.
Remembering Ron Ely as Tarzan
There’s no media report about his state of health before his death as Ron stayed out of the public glare since his son, Cameron, reportedly stabbed his wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely.
Despite the challenges, Kirsten says Ron’s “story was one of relentless perseverance” and “unending dedication” to the people around him. His daughter’s “greatest comfort” is the assurance that Ron is with his wife and son. The late actor is survived by Kaitland and Kirsten Ely.
What is Ron Ely known for?
Ron Ely was known for his brilliant performance in the 1966 -1968 Tarzan, which he nearly missed had his agent not convinced him that it was a “quality” series. “I met with [producers] on a Monday, and when they offered me the role, I thought, ‘No way do I want to step into that bear trap,” Ron stated. “You do Tarzan and you are stamped for life.” Ironically, he was indeed “stamped for life” as the Tarzan became the highlight of his career.
Even though technological advancement hasn’t really been adopted in movies, unlike today, Roy made sure that the movie stayed real as he performed all his stunts in the series. However, his health paid for it, as he suffered a series of injuries on the set and sustained fractures to his shoulder bone.