Ron Ely, best known for his role as Tarzan in the 1960s NBC television series, passed away in his home in Los Alamos, California on September 29, 2024. He was 86 years old.
His daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, confirmed his passing and spoke of her father’s legacy as an “actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man and leader”, asserting that he left a “powerful wave of positive influence” in his wake.
Ely’s portrayal of Tarzan from 1966 to 1968 was unique. Unlike previous iterations, his Tarzan was an educated bachelor who chose to leave civilization behind and return to the African jungle where he was raised. Notably, Ely’s character did not communicate in the simple, monosyllabic grunts often associated with the jungle hero.
The actor, a Texas native, performed his own stunts throughout the show’s two-season, 57-episode run, even working directly with wild animals. However, the physical strain of the role left Ely “physically and mentally worn out” by the series’ conclusion.
After his stint as Tarzan, Ely continued to act, taking on roles in the 1975 film “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze” and hosting the Miss America pageant in 1980 and 1981. He decided to retire from acting in 2001 to focus on his family, briefly coming out of retirement for the TV movie “Expecting Amish” in 2014.
Ely’s life took a tragic turn in October 2019 when his wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely, was fatally stabbed in their home by their 30-year-old son Cameron, who was subsequently shot and killed by police. Ely and his daughters later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and deputies, but a jury ruled that the officers had acted in self-defense.
He is survived by his daughters, Kirsten Casale Ely and Kaitland Ely Sweet. At the time of his death, Ely was in recovery from a stroke that occurred around the same time as the 2019 tragedy.