Remembering Ron Ely: A Legacy in Television
Ron Ely, the distinguished television actor celebrated for his portrayal of the sophisticated and adventurous Tarzan, passed away on September 29 at the home of one of his daughters near Santa Barbara, California. He was 86 years old. The announcement of his death was made public on Wednesday by his daughter, Kirsten Ely, through social media, with the news having remained unreported prior to this.
A tall and muscular Texas native, Ely (pronounced “EE-lee”) began his career in the 1950s, establishing himself as a dependable supporting actor on several major television series, including “Father Knows Best,” “How to Marry a Millionaire,” and “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.” His breakout role came in 1966 when he was cast as the lead in “Tarzan,” which aired on NBC for two seasons, totaling 57 episodes.
The show offered a modern twist on the classic character, presenting a Tarzan who had evolved beyond the jungle, embracing contemporary civilization before choosing to return to his roots. This iteration of Tarzan marked a departure from the previous versions, which often portrayed him with limited speech; Ely’s Tarzan was articulate and sophisticated. Additionally, the character of Jane, traditionally Tarzan’s love interest, was notably absent, although Cheetah, his loyal chimpanzee companion, remained a staple of the series.
Following the conclusion of “Tarzan” in 1968, Ely continued his acting career, making guest appearances in an impressive array of television shows throughout the 1970s and ’90s. His credits include popular series such as “The Love Boat,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Fantasy Island,” and “Hawkeye.” In addition to acting, Ely ventured into writing, publishing two detective novels: “Night Shadows” in 1994 and “East Beach” in 1995.
In the 1990s, Ely took a hiatus from acting to focus on raising his three children—Kirsten, Kaitland, and Cameron. However, he made a triumphant return to the screen in 2014 with a role in the television movie “Expecting Amish,” which tells the story of a young Amish woman whose life is transformed when she visits Hollywood. In an interview with The Fresno Bee, Ely reflected on his decision to step back from the limelight:
- “I stepped out of acting to raise a family and be able to spend more time with them here in Santa Barbara. Now, all the kids are through college with advanced degrees. My family asked me, ‘What are you hanging around for?’ I started looking around and this film came up. It felt so good making the movie; I wish I had never left.”
Tragedy struck in October 2019 when Ely’s wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely, was found murdered in their Santa Barbara home. Police responding to reports of a “family disturbance” arrived at the scene, where they fatally shot Cameron, who authorities claimed had killed his mother and posed an imminent threat. In the wake of this heartbreaking incident, Ely and his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, alleging that Cameron had been unarmed and that the officers acted without just cause. A jury later concluded in 2022 that the police had acted in self-defense.
A full obituary will be published soon.