Ron Ely, known for his role in the 1960s series “Tarzan,” has sadly passed away according to a statement released by his daughter on Wednesday.
Kirsten, Ely’s daughter, shared with TMZ that he died at home, surrounded by family, on September 29th. She offered a heartfelt homage in a lengthy Instagram post, honoring him as one of the finest individuals to ever exist, who also served as her personal hero.
According to her, her father brought an aura of positivity wherever he traveled, noting that his life exemplified unwavering determination to do what was right. She expressed her commitment to following in his footsteps.
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Kirsten finds solace in the thought that her father has reunited with her mother, Valerie, as well as her brother Cameron.
Ron began his acting career in the late 1950s. However, it was in 1966 that he received his breakthrough role as the lead character in the “Tarzan” television series, which ran for 57 episodes from 1966 to 1968.
His other notable roles include appearances in “Wonder Woman,” “The Love Boat,” “L.A. Law,” “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze,” “The Friend Who Walked the West,” and several other iterations of ‘Tarzan’ throughout the years. Additionally, Ely authored a couple of novels in his later years.
Ely’s life took a tragic turn in 2019 when his son, Cameron—reportedly experiencing early symptoms of CTE—stabbed his mother, Ron’s wife, to death. Following this incident, Cameron was fatally shot by deputies from the Santa Barbara County sheriff’s department.
In the following year, Ron filed a lawsuit against the department, claiming that the deputies failed to provide the necessary medical assistance after the stabbing incident involving Valerie and Cameron’s subsequent shooting.
Ron was 86 years old at the time of his passing. He is survived by his daughter Kirsten and another daughter, Kaitland.
Rest in Peace