Ron Ely, a beloved TV star known for playing Tarzan, has died, leaving fans of the classic adventure series sad and heartbroken.
Ron Ely, the actor who brought the wild and adventurous character of “Tarzan” to life in the 1960s TV show, has passed away at the age of 86.
Ron Ely, the beloved TV star known for playing Tarzan, died peacefully at home on September 29, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from his daughter.
In a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, his daughter Kirsten shared her sadness, saying, “The world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known – and I have lost my dad.”
Along with treasured photos of their time together, Kirsten honored her father, calling him “someone that people called a hero.” She described him as a “mentor, family man, and leader,” highlighting the deep impact he had on those around him.
Kirsten reflected on how her father created a “powerful wave of positive influence” wherever he went, noting that his impact was unique. She wrote, “My father’s life story was one of relentless perseverance, unending dedication to his family and friends, courage to do what was right, and willing sacrifice to help the dreams of those he loved.”
Ron began his acting career in the late 1950s, but he became famous in 1966 when he starred as Tarzan in the TV series. He captivated audiences with his portrayal of the jungle hero in 57 episodes from 1966 to 1968.
The actor’s talent extended beyond “Tarzan,” as he showcased his skills in various projects, including “Wonder Woman,” the 1975 movie “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze,” “L.A. Law,” “The Love Boat,” and “The Friend Who Walked the West.” Throughout his career, he continued to work on projects related to the “Tarzan” legacy and later published two novels.
Tragically, in 2019, Ron’s life changed when his son, Cameron, fatally stabbed his mother, Valerie, Ron’s wife. Cameron, reportedly suffering from early-stage CTE, was shot multiple times by police after he tried to escape. Following this, Ron filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the sheriff’s department, claiming that Cameron was trying to surrender when officers opened fire.
Legal documents revealed that the five officers involved did not provide timely medical help to Valerie, who was found dead with multiple stab wounds. According to police reports, when officers arrived, they found Valerie inside their home and then searched for Cameron, who was identified as the main suspect.
Cameron informed police that he had a gun and approached the deputies in a threatening manner. In response, four deputies fired a total of 24 rounds, fatally injuring him. After it was safe to approach, deputies discovered he had no weapon. Fortunately, none of the deputies were hurt, and Ron, although not physically harmed, was taken to the hospital for precautionary checks.
In the years following this tragic event, Ron Ely faced the difficulties of losing his family. The actor passed away at 86 and is survived by his daughters, Kirsten and Kaitland. His role as the iconic jungle hero left a lasting impact on television and secured his place as a household name.
Nicholas Cage’s twin grandchildren haven’t met their famous grandad
This actor, who belongs to one of Hollywood’s most famous dynasties, is a National Treasure but in his personal life, he’s trapped in a “quiet, horrible nightmare.”
The Family Man actor, who once bought a seat on a plane for his child’s imaginary friend, is now living in a “hostile environment” created by his son’s ex-wife, who’s preventing him from meeting his four-year-old twin granddaughters.
Keep reading to learn the identity of the star whose name change was inspired by a superhero!
When this actor was only 15, he was seated in a car with his uncle, one of Hollywood’s leading filmmakers, and begged him for a chance to appear in one of his award-winning films.
“Give me a screen test, I’ll show you acting. There was just silence in the car,” said the star, who’s proudly bizarre both on and off screen.
As a 17-year-old, the actor paved his own path to stardom and earned a minor role in the 1982 hit, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, a coming-of age cult favorite.
“I was the brunt of jokes because my name was still Coppola,” says Nicholas Cage, who was born in 1962 as Nicholas Kim Coppola.
“People would not stop saying things like, ‘I love the smell of Nicolas in the morning,’ because of Apocalypse Now…and it made it hard to work and I said, ‘I don’t need this,’ and changed it to Cage,” the star explains of dropping the surname that connected him to his famous relative, Francis Ford Coppola.
Next, explaining why he chose Cage, he says, “It’s a combination of Luke Cage from Marvel comics, who was a character I liked, also named Power Man, and John Cage, the avant-garde composer. Speaks volumes about everything I’ve been up to ever since.”
His first starring role with Cage as his last name came in 1983’s Valley Girl and the anonymity he said made him feel as if he “had this weight come off my body.”
“Wow, I really can do this. And I felt liberated by that experience,” he tells Hollywood Reporter. “And you can see it in Valley Girl that I’m free. Whereas in Fast Times, or even Rumble Fish, I’m somewhat stuck,” he says, referring to his appearance in 1983’s Rumble Fish, a film directed by his uncle.
Over the next several years, Cage worked in back-to-back films, earning the reputation as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors.
In 1988, he earned Golden Globe nominations for Moonstruck with Cher and Honeymoon in Vegas with Sarah Jessica Parker.
It was also the same year he met actor Christina Fulton, who in December 1990 gave birth to his first son, Weston Coppola Cage, an actor who appeared as the younger version of his dad in the 2014 film Rage.
Cage, who earned an Oscar for his 1995 role in Leaving Las Vegas, also shares a son Kal-El (Superman’s birth name) born in 2005 with his third wife Alice Kim, and daughter August Francesca (born 2022) with his fifth wife, Riko Shibata.
Cage was also famously married to Patricia Arquette (1995 to 2001) and Lisa Marie Presley (2002), whom he filed for divorce only months later.
Speaking with People, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent actor says that family comes “first and foremost.”
“There’s no version of Nick Cage in reality that doesn’t want to spend time with his children…There’s no version of Nick Cage that didn’t put family first over career,” says the star of Raising Arizona.
He adds, “I turned down Lord of the Rings and I turned down Matrix because I didn’t want to go to New Zealand for three years or Australia for three years because I needed to be home with my son Weston, that’s a fact.”
Offering evidence to that, actor Minnie Driver once said: “Was once on a plane with [Nicholas Cage] and his son and a seat had also been purchased for his son’s imaginary friend.”
Weston Coppola Cage
To this day the Adaptation star has a very tight bond with his children, and two of his grandchildren, Lucian (born 2014) and Sorin (2016), who Weston shares with his second wife.
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