Ron Ely, best known for playing Tarzan on NBC from 1966 to 1968, died at his home in Los Alamos, California, on September 29, 2024. He was 86. His daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, confirmed his death to the Associated Press, which reported it on October 23; the report did not give a cause of death.
Ron Ely’s Tarzan career
Ely’s defining role was the title character in NBC’s Tarzan, which aired from 1966 to 1968. His performance helped shape the image of Tarzan for television audiences, including the familiar shirtless, loincloth-wearing portrayal. He followed an earlier screen tradition associated with Johnny Weissmuller, who was known for playing Tarzan in films.
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Tarzan - Season One: Part One (4 Discs) | $38.18 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Tarzan: Complete Original 1960s TV Series Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Collection plus Bonus Art Card | $169.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Tarzan: The Complete Second Season | $40.45 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Tarzan - Season One: Part Two (4 Discs) | $38.18 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Tarzan: The Complete Second Season | $28.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Ely later hosted the Miss America pageant in the early 1980s. There he met Valerie Lundeen, whom he married in 1984. They had three children. Ely retired from acting in 2001 to focus on family life.
How his family remembered him
In an Instagram tribute reported by the AP, Kirsten Ely described her father as “an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man and leader.” The description reflects the roles his family emphasized alongside his acting career.
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The 2019 family tragedy
In 2019, Valerie Ely was stabbed to death at the couple’s home by their son, Cameron, who was subsequently shot and killed by police. Ron Ely was at home during the stabbing. He later challenged the prosecutor’s report that the police shooting was justified, according to the AP. The reported account does not establish a motive, and none should be inferred.
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