Ron Ely, the 15th screen Tarzan (excluding Gordon Griffith),was initially considered to portray a Tarzan impersonator in a proposed Mike Henry television show, which unfortunately did not come to fruition. This was fourteen months after he had been tested for the part.
Prior to his iconic role as Tarzan, Ron had a string of credits in both film and television, including a notable appearance as the copilot in the 1958 classic, South Pacific. He also co-starred in the short-lived television series "Malibu Run" (also known as The Aquanauts) in 1960.
In 1966, Ron landed the title role in the television series Tarzan, and later reprised his role in two movies adapted from the series in 1970. What's more, Ron refused to use a stunt double for his vine-swinging or animal fight scenes, often putting himself in harm's way and suffering injuries as a result.
Notably, Ron's physical appearance and dialogue were remarkably similar to those of Edgar Rice Burroughs' iconic character, making him the most authentic Tarzan adaptation to date. In addition to his work in television and film, Ron also hosted the "Miss America" pageant on television from 1979 to 1981, replacing the legendary Bert Parks.
