Ron Ely, ‘Tarzan’ on TV in the 1960s, dies at 86

Ron Ely, the actor known for portraying the title role in the 1960s NBC series *Tarzan*, has passed away at the age of 86.

Ely’s daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that he died on September 29 at his home in Los Alamos, California, a community in Santa Barbara County.

Though not as widely recognized as Johnny Weissmuller, the Olympic swimmer who portrayed Tarzan in the 1930s and 1940s films, Ely contributed to shaping the character's iconic image—shirtless and clad in a loincloth—which later became part of popular culture through Disney’s adaptation.

“He was an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man, and leader,” Kirsten Ely shared in an Instagram post. “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.”

In 2019, Ely was thrust back into the headlines following the tragic death of his wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely, who was fatally stabbed at their Santa Barbara home by their 30-year-old son, Cameron Ely. Police later shot and killed Cameron. Ron Ely, who was present at the scene, publicly challenged the prosecutor’s conclusion that the shooting was justified.

“If he didn’t have a gun or a weapon, what was the basis of shooting him?” questioned Ely’s attorney, John Burris, in 2020. “They may have believed he was involved in some activity with the mother, but that’s not a lawful basis for shooting him. You need a lawful reason to use lethal force.”

Ely met his wife, Valerie, a former Miss Florida, during his time as host of the Miss America pageant in the early 1980s. They married in 1984 and had three children together. Ely retired from acting in 2001 to focus on family life.

“Late in life, I had a young family, so I decided to stop acting and work at home as an author,” he told *London’s Daily Express* in 2013. “That way, I could be with the kids through school and attend their sports games.” Ely briefly returned to acting in 2014 for the TV movie *Expecting Amish*.

Ely’s portrayal of Tarzan differed from the grunting, monosyllabic character often associated with Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original creation. Instead, his Tarzan was an educated bachelor who grew disillusioned with civilization and returned to the African jungle where he had been raised.

In interviews, Ely shared that he performed his own stunts, working directly with wild animals like tigers and chimpanzees. “They initially cast a former football player, Mike Henry, but he didn’t get along with the chimpanzees, and things went downhill fast,” Ely recalled in the *Daily Express*.

During the filming of the show’s pilot, a chimp attacked Henry, injuring his jaw, prompting the producers to recast the role. Ely stepped in at the last moment. “I met with them on a Monday, and when they offered me the role, I thought, ‘No way do I want to step into that bear trap. You do Tarzan, and you’re stamped for life,’” he said. “Was I ever right! But my agent convinced me it was a quality show and worth it. By Friday, I was on a plane to Brazil to shoot the first episode.”

In addition to Tarzan, Ely starred as the title character in the 1975 action film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronz and appeared in smaller roles, including in the 1958 movie musical South Pacific. He also authored two mystery novels—Night Shadows (1994) and East Beach (1995)—featuring a detective named Jake Sands.

Born in Hereford, Texas, and raised in Amarillo, Ely married his high school sweetheart in 1959, but they divorced two years later.

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