Ron Ely, the American actor famous for his role as Tarzan in the 1960s television series, has passed away at the age of 86. Ely, known for performing his own stunts on the show, suffered multiple injuries, including broken bones and animal encounters, during its two-year run on NBC from 1966 to 1968.
His daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, announced his death in a heartfelt Instagram post, describing her father as “one of the greatest men the world has ever known” and expressing her deep personal loss, saying, “To me, he hung the moon.”
After retiring from acting in 2001, Ely pursued a career as an author, publishing two mystery novels. He briefly returned to the screen in 2014, appearing in the TV movie Expecting Amish as an Amish elder. In addition to his iconic Tarzan role, Ely was known for appearances on popular 1980s TV shows, including The Love Boat and Wonder Woman, and he hosted the Miss America pageant during that time, where he met his wife, Valerie. The couple later had three children together.
Ely was born in Texas in 1938 and married his high school sweetheart in 1959 before divorcing two years later. He passed away peacefully at his home in Los Alamos, Santa Barbara, California, on September 29. Kirsten’s tribute fondly recalled her father’s impact as a mentor, writer, and family man, sharing her gratitude for the honor of knowing him as her father.
