Hollywood Remembers Ron Ely: A Tarzan Legend Passes Away at 86

Ron Ely, who captured the hearts of many with his portrayal of Tarzan in the NBC series that aired from 1966 to 1968, has died at the age of 86. His daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, shared the tragic news on Instagram, stating, “The world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known - and I have lost my dad.”Ely, whose stunts often put him at physical risk, notably sustained multiple injuries and faced animal attacks during the filming of the series. After concluding his acting career in the early 2000s, Ely channeled his creativity into writing, producing two mystery novels that added to his legacy. However, in 2014, he made a brief return to the screen in the TV film “Expecting Amish,” portraying an Amish elder.Beyond his Tarzan fame, Ely was a familiar face on television throughout the 1980s, featuring in beloved shows like "The Love Boat" and making guest appearances on "Wonder Woman," where he acted alongside Lynda Carter. Ely was born in Texas in 1938 and married his high school sweetheart in 1959, though that union ended after two short years. He later hosted the Miss America pageant in the 1980s, where he met his second wife, Valerie Lundeen. The couple had three children together. Heartbreakingly, Lundeen was murdered by their son, Cameron, in their California home in 2019, an incident that resulted in Cameron being shot dead by police.After the tragedy, Ely sought justice through a wrongful death lawsuit against law enforcement, though the court found the officers acted out of self-defense. Ely passed away on September 29 at his home in Los Alamos, Santa Barbara. In her heartfelt tribute, Kirsten described her father as a “hero,” reflecting on his many roles—actor, writer, mentor, and family man. She fondly remarked, “To me, he hung the moon.”