Ron Ely was an actor best known for starring in the 1960s television show “Tarzan” and hosting the Miss America pageant.
- Died: September 29, 2024 (Who else died on September 29?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Alamos, California at the age of 86.
- We invite you to share condolences for Ron Ely in our Guest Book.
Ron Ely’s legacy
The Hereford, Texas-born Ely had hit an acting dry spell when he was cast in the 1966 television series “Tarzan.” In the early 1960s, he scored appearances in shows like “Father Knows Best” and “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” and he portrayed Mike Madison for 18 episodes of “The Aquanauts.” Between 1962 and “Tarzan,” however, Ely’s screen appearances were sparse.
That changed with the NBC series. For 57 episodes between ’66 and ’68, Ely delighted audiences with his daring action, often doing his own stunts, and “Tarzan” helped make him a pulp action hero. He played Doc Savage in the 1975 film “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze,” and was on 22 episodes of the 1980s action drama “Sea Hunt.” He also had credits on “Fantasy Island,” “The Love Boat,” “L.A. Law,” “Wonder Woman,” and other TV shows.
After Ely retired from acting in 2001, he was in headlines again in 2019 when his adult son with his second wife, Valerie Lundeen, stabbed her to death in a domestic dispute. Police arrived on the scene and fatally shot their son.
When not acting, Ely was a writer with two mystery novels to his name, “Night Shadows” (1994) and “East Beach” (1995). He was also host of the Miss America pageant in 1980 and 1981, where he met Lundeen, who was Miss Florida.
Tributes to Ron Ely
Full obituary: The New York Times
