Ron Ely facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ron Ely
Ely as Doc Savage in 1975
Born	Ronald Pierce Ely (1938-06-21)June 21, 1938 Hereford, Texas, US
Died	September 29, 2024(2024-09-29) (aged 86) Los Alamos, California, US
Occupation	Actor novelist
Years active	1957–2001, 2014
Spouse(s)	Helen Janet Triplet ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1961)​ Valerie Lundeen ​ ​ (m. 1984; died 2019)​
Children	3

Ronald Pierce Ely (June 21, 1938 – September 29, 2024) was an American actor and writer. He was most famous for playing Tarzan in the TV series Tarzan from 1966 to 1968. He also starred as Doc Savage in the 1975 movie Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. Ron Ely also hosted the Miss America pageant in 1980 and 1981.

Ron Ely's Acting Career

Ely as Tarzan

Ron Ely became famous when he won the role of Tarzan in 1966. Before that, he had smaller parts in movies like South Pacific (1958). He played an airplane navigator in that film. He also appeared in The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958) and The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959).

While filming Tarzan, Ely did many of his own stunts. This meant he got injured more than two dozen times. He even broke both shoulders and was bitten by lions several times.

His tall height (6 feet 4 inches) and athletic build helped him get other action roles. He played the main character in the movie Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975). He also made guest appearances on many TV shows.

TV Show Appearances

Ely was in five episodes of the series Fantasy Island. In one episode in 1978, he played Mark Antony. He also starred in a two-part episode of Wonder Woman called "The Deadly Sting".

He was part of the series The Aquanauts from 1960 to 1961. He also appeared in the western movie The Night of the Grizzly (1966). Later, he was in the movie Slavers (1978).

In the 1980s, Ron Ely hosted a musical game show called Face the Music. He also hosted the 1980 and 1981 Miss America Pageants. He took over from the long-time host, Bert Parks.

Ely starred in a new version of the adventure series Sea Hunt from 1987 to 1988. He played Mike Nelson, a role originally played by Lloyd Bridges.

In the 1990s, Ely continued acting. He played an older version of Superman in an episode of Superboy. He also played a hunter named Gordon Shaw in an episode of Tarzán. He appeared on shows like Sheena and Renegade until about 2001.

Writing Career

Besides acting, Ron Ely was also a novelist. He wrote two mystery novels. These books featured a private investigator named Jake Sands. The books were called Night Shadows (1994) and East Beach (1995).

Ely stopped acting in 2001. However, he returned for one more role in the television movie Expecting Amish in 2014.

Ron Ely's Personal Life

Ron Ely was born in Hereford, Texas on June 21, 1938. He grew up in Amarillo.

He married his high school girlfriend, Helen Janet Triplet, in 1959. They were both from Hereford, Texas. They divorced in July 1961.

In 1984, Ely married Valerie Lundeen. She had won the Miss Florida USA title in 1981. They had three children together.

Death

Ron Ely passed away at the home of one of his daughters. This was in Los Alamos, California, on September 29, 2024. He was 86 years old. His death was announced later, on October 23, 2024.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Ron Ely para niños