In brief
Ely's contributions to television and literature, coupled with his profound impact on loved ones, are celebrated following his recent passing.
Ron Ely, the beloved American actor renowned for his portrayal of Tarzan on the NBC television series during the late 1960s, has passed away at the age of 86. His daughter, Kirsten Casale Ely, expressed her grief and admiration, stating, "The world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known - and I have lost my dad," in an emotional Instagram tribute.Ely, who enthralled audiences from 1966 to 1968, was no stranger to the risks of performing his own stunts, famously suffering numerous injuries and experiences with wild animals during filming. After a successful acting career that concluded in 2001, he turned to authorship, publishing two mystery novels reflecting his creative talents.He made a cameo appearance in the 2014 television film Expecting Amish, portraying an Amish elder, while also making memorable guest spots on popular shows like The Love Boat and Wonder Woman throughout the 1980s. Born in Texas in 1938, Ely married his high school sweetheart in 1959, a union that lasted only two years. He went on to host the Miss America pageant in the early 1980s, where he met his second wife, Valerie Lundeen. They had three children together. Tragically, Lundeen was murdered in 2019 by their son, Cameron, who was subsequently shot by police officers responding to the incident. Ely's legal pursuit for justice through a wrongful death lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by the court.Ely's life concluded at his home in Los Alamos, Santa Barbara, California, on September 29. His daughter honorably commemorated his multifaceted role in life beyond his on-screen persona, stating, "He was an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man and leader... To me, he hung the moon."
