Info: Prior to Tarzan he had
played only bit parts in movies, e.g., the copilot in South Pacific (1958) and
had co-starred in TV's brief series "Malibu Run". He played the title role in
the TV series "Tarzan" (1966), and in two movies made from that series in 1970.
It has been noted that Ron's physical appearance and dialogue were much more
like those of Edgar Rice Burroughs' character than could be said for any other
Tarzan.
Trivia: Ron did his own stunts and also all the on-air work with the
animals. This got him often-injured.
He hosted the "Miss America" pageant on television 1979-81, replacing Bert
Parks.
In the early 1970s, Ely made a number of films in Germany, where he became very
popular in a brief series of adventure films.
Quotable:
"Ever read the original Tarzan stories? They're beautiful. About an educated man
who returns to the environment he knows best, the jungle. There he seeks truth,
honor, and man's lost humanity to man. This Tarzan is the part I've been waiting
for all my life." - Ron Ely
Where
is He Now: Ron hasn't shown up in any acting roles lately. His last acting
appearance was in 2001 in an episode of "Sheena."
In the mid-90's he wrote a serious of mystery novels, featuring the character
Jake Sands. They did very well and he enjoyed a little different type of
popularity at that time.
Throughout the past few years Ron has been known to show up at some various fan
conventions around the country.
Write To Ron:
CREDITS: "Sheena" - The Feral King (2001) TV Episode .... Bixby
"Renegade"
- Hard Evidence (1996) TV Episode .... Gen. Howard Bird
- White Picket Fences (1993) TV Episode .... Reverend McClain
"Hawkeye"
- Out of the Past (1994) TV Episode .... Harry March
"L.A. Law"
- Book of Renovation, Chapter 1 (1993) TV Episode
"The Hat Squad"
- Family Business (1992) TV Episode .... Carl Strong
"Tarzán"
- Tarzan, the Hunted (1992) TV Episode .... Gordon Shaw
"Superboy"
- The Road to Hell: Part 2 (1991) TV Episode .... Superman
- The Road to Hell: Part 1 (1991) TV Episode .... Superman
"Sea Hunt" (1987) TV Series .... Mike Nelson
"Blacke's Magic"
- Ten Tons of Trouble (1986) TV Episode .... Garth Maxwell
"Fantasy Island"
- Goin' on Home/Ambitious Lady (1984) TV Episode
- Eternal Flame/A Date with Burt (1983) TV Episode .... Burt
- The Case Against Mr. Roarke/Save Sherlock Holmes (1982) TV Episode .... Kevin
Lansing
- My Fair Pharaoh/The Power (1980) TV Episode .... Eric Williams/Marc Anthony
- The Red Baron/Young at Heart (1979) TV Episode .... Baron Manfred von
Richthofen
"Hotel"
... aka Arthur Hailey's Hotel
- Charades (1983) TV Episode .... Evan Paige
"Matt Houston"
- A Deadly Parlay (1983) TV Episode
"The Love Boat"
- Captain's Crush, The/Off-Course Romance/Out of My Hair (1983) TV Episode
- New York, A.C./Live It Up/All's Fair in Love and War (1982) TV Episode ....
Jim
- She Stole His Heart/Return of the Captain's Brother/Swag and Mag (1980) TV
Episode .... Steve Swaggart
"Face the Music" (1980) TV Series .... Host
"Wonder Woman"
- The Deadly Sting (1978) TV Episode .... Bill Michaels
Slavers (1978) .... Steven Hamilton
MitGift (1976) .... Dr. Kurt Jahn
Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975) .... Clark 'Doc' Savage Jr.
"Marcus Welby, M.D."
- To Father a Child (1974) TV Episode
Alleluja e Sartana figli di... Dio (1972) .... Alleluia
Schrei der schwarzen Wölfe, Der (1972) .... Bill Robinson
"Ironside" - Killing at the Track (1971) TV Episode .... Scott Bradley
Tarzan's Deadly Silence (1970) .... Tarzan
"Tarzan" .... Tarzan
- Mountains of the Moon: Part 1 (1967) TV Episode .... Tarzan
The Night of the Grizzly (1966) .... Tad Curry
Once Before I Die (1965) .... Soldier
"Thriller" - Waxworks (1962) TV Episode .... Police Lt. Mike Hudson
"The Aquanauts" (1960) TV Series .... Mike Madison (1960-1961)
"The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp"
- The Posse (1960) TV Episode .... Arleigh Smith
"The Millionaire"
- Millionaire Sergeant Matthew Brogan (1959) TV Episode .... Phillips
"How to Marry a Millionaire"
- The Method (1959) TV Episode
The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959) .... Wilbur Fielding
The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958) .... Deputy Jim Dyer
South Pacific (1958) .... Navigator
Updated: 10/1/2006
Quotable:
"Ever read the original Tarzan stories? They're beautiful. About an educated man
who returns to the environment he knows best, the jungle. There he seeks truth,
honor, and man's lost humanity to man. This Tarzan is the part I've been waiting
for all my life." - Ron Ely
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