Johnny Weissmuller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Weissmuller
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Weissmuller circa 1940
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| Born | 2 June 1904 |
| Died | 20 January 1984 (aged 79) |
| Cause of death | Pulmonary edema |
| Occupation | Swimmer, actor |
| Years active | 1929–76 |
| Spouse(s) |
Bobbe Arnst
(m. 1931; div. 1933)Lupe Vélez
(m. 1933; div. 1939)Beryl Scott
(m. 1939; div. 1948)Allene Gates
(m. 1948; div. 1962)Maria Brock Mandell Bauman
(m. 1963) |
| Children | 3 |
Johnny Weissmuller (born June 2, 1904 – died January 20, 1984) was a famous American swimmer and actor. He was born in Austria-Hungary. He is best known for playing the jungle hero Tarzan in many movies. He also had one of the best swimming records ever.
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Early Life and Swimming Success
When Johnny was nine years old, he got sick with polio. His doctor suggested he start swimming to help him get better. After his family moved to Chicago, he kept swimming. He eventually joined the YMCA swim team.
Weissmuller quickly became one of the fastest swimmers in the world. In the 1920s, he won five Olympic gold medals for swimming. He also won a bronze medal for water polo. He was the first person to swim 100 meters freestyle in under one minute. He also swam 440 yards freestyle in less than five minutes.
Johnny won 52 U.S. national championships. He set more than 50 world records in both freestyle and backstroke. He was never beaten in any official swimming competition.
From Swimmer to Movie Star
After he stopped competing in swimming, Johnny Weissmuller became an actor. He was the sixth actor to play Tarzan in movies. He starred in 12 Tarzan films. Many other actors have played Tarzan, but Johnny Weissmuller is the most famous. His special "Tarzan yell" is still used in movies today.
Starting His Acting Career
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In 1929, Weissmuller worked as a model for a swimwear company called BVD. He traveled around the country, doing swim shows and signing autographs. That same year, he appeared in his first movie, Glorifying the American Girl.
He also appeared in short films called Crystal Champions. These films showed Weissmuller and other Olympic champions swimming. He also performed with Esther Williams in a show at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Becoming Tarzan
Johnny's acting career really took off when he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He got the role of Tarzan in the movie Tarzan the Ape Man (1932). The movie was a huge hit. Johnny Weissmuller became famous all over the world very quickly. Even Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote the Tarzan books, liked Weissmuller's performance.
Weissmuller made six Tarzan movies with MGM. Maureen O'Sullivan played Jane, and Cheeta was the chimpanzee. In the last three movies, Johnny Sheffield joined them as Boy. In 1942, Weissmuller moved to RKO and made six more Tarzan films. Johnny Sheffield also played Boy in the first five of these RKO movies.
Life After Tarzan Films
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In 1958, Johnny Weissmuller was playing golf in Cuba during the Cuban Revolution. Rebel soldiers surrounded his golf cart. Johnny couldn't explain who he was. So, he got out of the cart and did his famous Tarzan yell. The soldiers immediately recognized him! They shouted, "It's Tarzan! It's Tarzan of the Jungle!" The soldiers then gave him an escort back to his hotel.
Weissmuller was also a good amateur golfer. He played in two professional golf tournaments.
In the late 1950s, Weissmuller moved back to Chicago. He started a swimming pool company. He also lent his name to other businesses. In 1965, he retired and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There, he helped start the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF). He was added to the ISHOF that same year.
In 1966, Weissmuller met with other actors who played Tarzan. They helped promote the new Tarzan TV series. Later, he was involved with a tourist attraction in Florida called Tarzan's Jungleland.
Johnny Weissmuller's face is on the famous cover of The Beatles' 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
In 1969, he opened a small chain of health food stores in California. They were called Johnny Weissmuller's American Natural Foods.
In 1970, he went to the British Commonwealth Games in Scotland. He met Queen Elizabeth II there. That same year, he appeared in a movie called The Phynx with his old co-star Maureen O'Sullivan.
Weissmuller lived in Florida until 1973. Then he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. He worked as a greeter at Caesars Palace for a while. In 1976, he appeared in his last movie, Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood. He also made his last public appearance that year.
Family Life
Johnny Weissmuller was married five times. His wives included actress Lupe Vélez.
With his third wife, Beryl, he had three children. They were Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. (born 1940 – died 2006), Wendy Anne Weissmuller (born 1942), and Heidi Elizabeth Weissmuller (born 1944 – died 1962). Sadly, Heidi died in a car crash. He also had a stepdaughter named Lisa.
Later Years and Passing
In 1974, Weissmuller broke both his hip and leg. This was the start of several years of health problems. While in the hospital, doctors found he had a serious heart condition. In 1977, he had several strokes. In 1979, he stayed at a hospital for movie and TV people. Later, he moved to Acapulco, Mexico, with his last wife, Maria. Acapulco was where he filmed his last Tarzan movie.
Johnny Weissmuller passed away on January 20, 1984, at age 79. He was buried outside Acapulco. As his coffin was lowered, a recording of his famous Tarzan yell was played three times. This was his special request. He was also honored with a 21-gun salute, which is usually given to important leaders.
Images for kids
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Weißmüller homestead, Freidorf
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Weissmuller in 1924
See also
In Spanish: Johnny Weissmüller para niños
