Tarzan star Ron Ely has died at the age of 86 with his daughter penning an emotional tribute to the legendary actor. She honoured her late father saying the “world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known”.
Renowned for his role as the iconic jungle hero in the NBC series Tarzan, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the actor reportedly endured lion attacks and suffered two shoulder fractures during the show’s production.
The actor’s death was confirmed by his daughter, Kiki Ely, an author, who paid a heartfelt tribute to her father as her “hero”.
The Tarzan star died at his home in Los Alamos in Santa Barbara, California on September 29.
Posting to her Instagram account, she penned: “The world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known – and I have lost my dad.”
My father was someone that people called a hero. He was an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man and leader.”
She continued: “He created a powerful wave of positive influence wherever he went. The impact he had on others is something that I have never witnessed in any other person – there was something truly magical about him.
This is how the world knew him… To me, he hung the moon. .
My father was my world – and what an incredible world he created. He was strong and protective. He was brilliant and ridiculously funny. He was stoic and sensitive. He was dynamic and powerful. He was my role model and inspiration.
He was humble and inherently received respect – the respect he so deserved.”
Kiki added: “My father’s life story was one of relentless perseverance, unending dedication to his family and friends, courage to do what was right, and willing sacrifice to facilitate the dreams of those he loved. It was also a story of joy and love – something everyone close to him had the privilege of experiencing. Once you knew my father’s love, the world grew to be a brighter and more meaningful place. (sic)”.
She confessed that her “greatest comfort” is the knowledge that her dad is now reunited with her mother and brother.
Kiki continued: “I am doing my best to walk this path of loss with the strength and grace that I know he would want for me. I’m picking up the pieces of my heart that feel like pieces of him – and cementing those firmly in place before I pick up the rest of the broken bits. It makes me feel like part of him is still here – and I need that – and the world needs that.
“My greatest comfort is knowing that my dad is with my momma and my brother. It is also my greatest sadness because I miss them all so much that it’s etched into my soul. I will proudly carry all of my favourite pieces of them – lovingly cemented into my heart – until we all meet again. (sic)”.
Tributes poured in for the beloved actor as one person tweeted: “The best Tarzan went to his eternal jungle. Rest in peace my childhood hero.”
Another remarked: “Rest well, Ron Ely,” while a third added: “RIP Ron Ely. Adored this show and how he portrayed Tarzan #Tarzan #RonEly.”
In addition to being known for Tarzan, Ron also starred in the 1975 film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, which was the last movie completed by sci-fi producer George Pal.
Ron also hosted the Miss America pageant telecast in 1980 and 1981.
He hung up his acting boots in 2001 to pursue a career as an author, but made a brief comeback for the TV film Expecting Amish in 2014.
Born in Texas in 1938, Ron married his childhood sweetheart in 1959, before divorcing two years later.
In the early 1980s, he married his second wife Valerie Lundeen. The couple went on to have three children.
Lundeen was stabbed to death aged 62 by their son, Cameron, at their California home in 2019. He was then shot dead by police after being deemed a threat by attending officers.
Ron filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the force, though the judge ruled the officers had acted in self-defence.
