Celebrity

Fans and family mourn the passing of 1960s Tarzan star Ron Ely

Matthew Hart
Oct 24, 2024
As news of his passing broke, fans near and far took to social media to pay tribute and reflect on their favourite performances. Source: AP PHOTO.

Ron Ely, who brought the title character in the 1960s TV series Tarzan to life, has sadly passed away at the age of 86.

Ely’s daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, took to social media to announce the passing of her father while reflecting on the impact he had on those around him.

“The world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known – and I have lost my dad,” she wrote.

“My father was someone that people called a hero. He was an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man and leader. He created a powerful wave of positive influence wherever he went. The impact he had on others is something that I have never witnessed in any other person – there was something truly magical about him. This is how the world knew him.

“I knew him as my dad – and what a heaven sent honor that has been. To me, he hung the moon.”

 

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A post shared by K I K I E L Y (@blonderambitions)

Born June 21, 1938, Ely was best known for the lead role of Tarzan in the NBC series Tarzan which ran from 1966–1968.

Ely secured the role after appearing in several supporting roles in films such as South Pacific (1958), The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958) and The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959).

Ely later landed the title role in the film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975). He also appeared in five episodes of the series Fantasy Island and also starred in the Wonder Woman television series’ two-part episode The Deadly Sting.

In the 1980s, he hosted the musical game show Face the Music, as well as the 1980 and 1981 Miss America Pageants. Later in the decade, Ely starred in a 1987–1988 revival of the 1960s adventure series Sea Hunt as Mike Nelson.

In the 1990s, Ely’s roles included a retired alternate universe version of Superman in Superboy and hunter Gordon Shaw in the Tarzán episode Tarzan the Hunted.

Ely retired from acting in 2001 but later returned with an appearance in the television film Expecting Amish (2014)

As news of his passing broke, fans near and far took to social media to pay tribute and reflect on their favourite performances.

Along with Kirsten Casale Ely, he is survived by daughter Kaitland Ely Sweet.

-with AP.

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