biography
Native Texan Ron Ely was born Ronald Pierce on June 21, 1938. In the mid 1950s, he enrolled at the University of Texas, but he soon made his way to California. After signing
with 20th Century Fox in the late 1950s, Ely appeared in small roles in several films and television shows, including the films South Pacific and The Remarkable Mr.
Pennypacker and the TV series How to Marry a Millionaire (1957-1959; with Merry Anders, Barbara Eden,
and Lori Nelson). And in 1960 Ely was cast in the CBS series The Aquanauts, but the show was canceled after just one season. Several more
films followed, but his big break didn't come until 1966, when the 6'4" actor was cast in the role of Tarzan for the TV series of the same name.    
Ron Ely as TarzanAfter a number of attempts to create a Tarzan TV series had failed, producer Sy Weintraub finally was able to bring Tarzan to the small screen in 1966. Tarzan aired on NBC beginning in September 1966 and lasted until September 1968, with each episode running at about 47 minutes. In the series, there is no Jane in sight; Tarzan is assisted only by Cheetah and Jai (Manuel Padilla Jr.), an orphan. Citing sagging ratings and rising production costs, NBC canceled Tarzan in 1968. Throughout the run of the series, several films were released, mostly using footage from the series. In the early 1970s, Ely made a couple of films in Europe, including The Cry of the Black Wolves (1972) and the spaghetti western comedy Alleluja & Sartana Are Sons... Sons of God (1972; with Uschi Glas). His next hit would come in 1975, with the release of the adventure Doc Savage (1975; with Paul Gleason). |
the films of ron elyThe Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959)
With Jill St. John in the 20th Century Fox comedy The Remarkable Mr. PennypackerThe Aquanauts (1960-1961 CBS TV Series)
As Mike Madigan from the CBS TV series The AquanautsOnce Before I Die (1966)
From the Warner Bros. war drama Once Before I Die with Richard Jaeckel. This film was directed by John DerekThe Night of the Grizzly (1966)
Clint Walker slaps Ron Ely in Paramount's The Night of the GrizzlyTarzan (1966-1968 NBC TV Series)   
LEFT and CENTER: Various shots from Ely's 1966-1968 NBC series Tarzan. RIGHT: With Manuel Padilla Jr. as JaiTarzan's Jungle Rebellion (1967) 
From Tarzan's Jungle RebellionThe Cry of the Black Wolves (1972)
From the Swedish-made adventure The Cry of the Black Wolves, lensed in AustriaDoc Savage (1975)  
From the Warner Bros. adventure Doc Savage. LEFT and CENTER: Ely as the title character. RIGHT: With Pamela HensleyFantasy Island (1978-1984 ABC TV Series)  
From Ron Ely's guest appearance on ABC-TV's Fantasy Island, episode My Fair Pharoah/The Power, which originally aired on May 10, 1980Sea Hunt (1987-1988 Syndicated TV Series)
With Kimber Sissions in the syndicated series Sea Hunt, a reboot of the original series which starred Lloyd Bridgeslater yearsIn the late 1980s, Ely cooled his acting career, focusing instead on raising a family and writing mystery novels featuring the character, Jake Sands. His novels are titled Night Shadows and East Beach, both published in the mid 1990s. Ely made occasional appearances on popular TV shows, his most recent being Sheena and Renegade. Ely retired from acting in 2001 but appeared in the made-for-TV movie Expecting Amish (2014; with Jesse McCartney). Sadly, Ron Ely passed away on September 29, 2024 at age 86. He is survived by his two daughters.Ron Ely was briefly married at age 21 to wife Janet, but they parted ways in 1961. In 1984, he married Valerie, and the couple welcomed three children. In a horrible turn of events, in October 2019 Ely's son, Cameron, stabbed Ely's wife to death and was later shot and killed by police. |
filmography
FILM
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This page premiered May 6, 1999.
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