Mourning in the world of cinema: the American actor <a href="https://www.world-today-news.com/he-filmed-with-uschi-glas-tarzan-actor-ron-ely-is-dead-entertainment/" title="He filmed with Uschi Glas: “Tarzan” actor Ron Ely is dead | Entertainment”>Ron Ely, who played the Lord of the Jungle in the first “Tarzan” television series from 1966 to 1968, has died at the age of 86 years old at his home in Los Alamos, Santa Barbara County, California, from natural causes. Ely passed away last September 29th, but the announcement was only made today, October 24th, on social media by his daughter Kirsten Casale Ely who then confirmed the news to Fox News Digital.
The daughter’s pain
Ron Ely’s daughter, Kirsten, spoke about her father’s passing, obviously first describing the person behind the iconic actor: «The world has lost one of the greatest men I have ever known, and I have lost my father. My father was a people person 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 I’ve never seen in any other person – there was something truly magical about him. That’s how the world knew him.”
Career
Born June 21, 1938 in Hereford, IN Texasstatuesque, with a height of 190 centimeters, blue eyes, a sculpted physique and obviously great acting skills. Ron Ely had already appeared in two films in 1966: alongside Clint Walker in “The Night of the Bear” and with Ursula Andress in “One to Die for”. In the same year, the turning point: the actor was offered the job for “Tarzan” after Mike Henry, who had played the character created by writer Edgar Rice Burroughs in three films of the 1960s, abruptly left the set after being bitten on the jaw by a chimpanzee (he would later sue for unsafe working conditions).
In the series, Ely obviously played the role of the protagonist, Tarzan and during the two seasons, a total of 57 episodes, he personally performed all the stunts
In fact, he wasn’t wearing any clothes, just a loincloth, and finding a body double who looked like him was absolutely not easy. Ely was not unhappy when once the series concluded in March 1968: «Frankly, I don’t know if I could have done more. I was mentally and physically exhausted. My body was in pieces. I had so many torn muscles and lacerations, broken shoulders, wrists and bones. Every part of me had been hurt,” he said in an interview.
Last update: Thursday 24 October 2024, 2.22pm
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
