Ronald Pierce "Ron" Ely (born June 2, 1938) is the stage name of the American actor and novelist born in Hereford, Texas. He is best known for starring as Tarzan in the 1966 NBC series Tarzan.
He got the role after playing various bit-parts (including an airplane co-pilot in the 1958 movie South Pacific). His height (6' 4") and athletic build also won him the title role in the 1975 Doc Savage film, as well as various guest shots: In a 1978 Fantasy Island episode, for example, he played Mark Antony in a Roman military short tunic and breastplate that displayed almost as much of his physique as his Tarzan costume had.
In the 1980s, he starred in the series Sea Hunt and hosted the musical game show Face the Music. Additionally, he hosted the 1980 and 1981 Miss America Pageants - replacing longtime host Bert Parks.
In the 1990s, Ely’s roles included a retired Superman in a two-part episode of Superboy, and a character named Gordon Shaw in the syndicated Tarzán (starring Wolf Larson).
In recent years Ely has embarked on a successful writing career and has penned two mystery novels featuring private eye Jake Sands: Night Shadows (1994) and East Beach (1995).
Ely holds the unique honor of being the only actor to have portrayed three of the most iconic characters in American popular culture: Doc Savage, Superman, and Tarzan.
See also
Johnny Weissmuller
Denny Miller
Buster Crabbe
Lex Barker
Gordon Scott
Jock Mahoney
Mike Henry
External links
Ron Ely at the Internet Movie Database
Ron Ely at Brian's Drive-In Theater
Ron Ely at Yahoo Groups
Ron Ely at Classic Hunk of Man
Preceded by
Mike Henry
Actors to portray Tarzan
1966-1970
Succeeded by
Miles O'Keeffe
Preceded by
Bert Parks
Miss America host
1980-1981
Succeeded by
Gary Collins
Persondata
NAME
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Ely, Ronald Pierce
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH
1938-6-21
PLACE OF BIRTH
Hereford, Texas, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Ely"
Categories: American film actors | American television actors | American game show hosts | Texas actors | 1938 births | Living people | People from Amarillo, Texas
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This page was last modified on 14 September 2008, at 18:48.
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