Ron Ely
Photo from TMDB

Person

Ron Ely

Known for
Acting
Born
June 21, 1938
Died
September 29, 2024
Place of birth
Hereford, Texas, USA
Also known as
Ronald Pierce Ely, Ronald Ely

IMDb

Biography

Ronald Pierce "Ron" Ely (born June 21, 1938) was an American actor and novelist born in Hereford, Texas. Ely is best known for having portrayed Tarzan in the 1966 NBC series Tarzan and for playing the lead role in the 1975 film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze.

Ely obtained the role after playing various bit-parts, including an airplane navigator in the 1958 film South Pacific and a guest-starring role on Barbara Eden's first television series, the romantic comedy How to Marry a Millionaire. Ely's height (6' 4") and athletic build also won him the title role in the 1975 film Doc Savage, as well as various guest shots. In a 1978 Fantasy Island episode, for example, Ely portrayed Mark Antony in a Roman military short tunic and breastplate that displayed almost as much of his physique as his Tarzan costume had.

From 1960-61, Ely starred in the series The Aquanauts. In the 1980s, Ely hosted the musical game show Face the Music. Additionally, Ely hosted the 1980 and 1981 Miss America Pageants, replacing longtime host Bert Parks.

In the 1990s, Ely’s roles included a retired Superman in the 1991 two-part episode "The Road to Hell" of the Superboy syndicated television series, and a big game hunter named Gordon Shaw in the 1992 episode "Tarzan the Hunted" of the syndicated Tarzán TV series (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). Until about 2001, Ely made appearances on popular TV shows, his most recent being Sheena and Renegade. He is now retired from acting.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Ron Ely, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Biography from TMDB, which often draws on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

In Catlg

1 Work in the catalog credit them.

Acting (1)

Filmography

  • Tarzan RevisitedFilm · 2017 · as Self
  • Tarzan: Lord of the MoviesFilm · 2017 · as Tarzan (Archive Footage)
  • Expecting AmishFilm · 2014 · as Elder Miller
  • Underground Entertainment: The MovieFilm · 2011 · as Ron (archive footage)
  • SheenaTV · 2000 · as Bixby · 1 episode
  • In Search of Tarzan with Jonathan RossFilm · 1998 · as Self
  • Tarzan at the Movies, Part 2: The Many Faces of TarzanFilm · 1996 · as Tarzan (archive footage)
  • MarkerTV · 1995 · Acting · 1 episode
  • RenegadeTV · 1992 · as Reverend McClain · 1 episode
  • The Hat SquadTV · 1992 · as Carl Strong · 1 episode
  • Vicki!TV · 1992 · as Self - Guest · 1 episode
  • Sea HuntTV · 1987 · as Mike Nelson · 22 episodes
  • Blacke's MagicTV · 1986 · Acting · 1 episode
  • L.A. LawTV · 1986 · as Mr. McIntyre · 1 episode
  • HotelTV · 1982 · as Evan Paige · 1 episode
  • Matt HoustonTV · 1982 · Acting · 1 episode
  • SlaversFilm · 1978 · as Steven Hamilton
  • The Love BoatTV · 1977 · as Jim · 1 episode
  • MitGiftFilm · 1976 · as Kurt
  • Doc Savage: The Man of BronzeFilm · 1975 · as Clark 'Doc' Savage Jr.
  • Wonder WomanTV · 1975 · as Bill Michaels · 1 episode
  • Alleluja & Sartana Are Sons... Sons of GodFilm · 1972 · as Hallelujah
  • Cry of the Black WolvesFilm · 1972 · as Bill Robinson
  • Tarzan and the Perils of Charity JonesFilm · 1971 · as Tarzan
  • Tarzan's Deadly SilenceFilm · 1970 · as Tarzan
  • The Courtship of Eddie's FatherTV · 1969 · as Ronald · 1 episode
  • Tarzan and the Four O'Clock ArmyFilm · 1968 · as Tarzan
  • IronsideTV · 1967 · as Scott Bradley · 1 episode
  • Tarzan's Jungle RebellionFilm · 1967 · as Tarzan
  • The Mountains of the MoonFilm · 1967 · as Tarzan
  • Once Before I DieFilm · 1966 · as Soldier
  • TarzanTV · 1966 · as Tarzan · 57 episodes
  • TarzanTV · 1966 · Director · 1 episode
  • The Night of the GrizzlyFilm · 1966 · as Ted Curry
  • Die Rudi Carrell ShowTV · 1965 · Acting · 1 episode
  • The AquanautsTV · 1960 · as Mike Madison · 32 episodes
  • ThrillerTV · 1960 · as Lt. Mike Hudson · 1 episode
  • Stars in der ManegeTV · 1959 · as Self · 1 episode
  • The Remarkable Mr. PennypackerFilm · 1959 · as Wilbur Fielding
  • South PacificFilm · 1958 · as Navigator
  • Steve CanyonTV · 1958 · as Pete Randall · 1 episode
  • The Fiend Who Walked the WestFilm · 1958 · as Deputy Jim Dyer
  • The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpTV · 1955 · Acting · 1 episode
  • The MillionaireTV · 1955 · as Jim Phillips · 1 episode

Filmography from TMDB. This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

Sources