Ron Ely, best known for his role as TV's Tarzan, died on September 29th at the age of 86.
Daughter Kristen announces death Instagram October 23rd.
“The world lost one of the greatest people it has ever known. And I lost my father,” she wrote on social media. “My father was a hero. He was an actor, author, coach, mentor, family man, and leader. He created a powerful wave of positive influence wherever he went. ” she said.
American actor Ron Ely poses bare-chested and with a chimpanzee on his shoulder in a promotional portrait for the American television series Tarzan, circa 1966. An adventure series based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-). (1950), in which Ely starred as “Tarzan.” (Photo courtesy of Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Kristen continued to pay tribute to her father and the legacy he left behind.
“The impact he had on others was something I had never seen in anyone else. There was something truly magical about him that made the world appreciate him. That’s how I found out,” she said in a statement.
“I knew him as a father, and what a heaven-given honor that was. To me, he hung the moon,” she wrote.
Her heartfelt words of condolence continued as follows: “My father was my world, and what a wonderful world he created. He was strong and protective. He was wonderful and ridiculously funny. He was stoic and sensitive. He was dynamic and powerful. He was my role model and inspiration.
She went on to say, “He was humble and inherently commanding respect. That was the respect he deserved.”
Kirsten spoke of Ely's “unrelenting dedication to family and friends, courage to do the right thing, and willingness to sacrifice to further the dreams of those he loved.”
“I pick up the pieces of my heart that feel like his pieces, hold them tight, and then pick up the rest of the broken pieces. I feel like a piece of him is still here. — and I need it — and the world needs it,” she wrote.
The daughter of a famous actor affectionately touched on the tragic loss in her family.
“My greatest comfort is that my father is with my mother and brother. It is also my greatest sadness, because I miss them all so much. It is engraved in my soul. I will cherish all of my favorite works and carry them with me with pride until we meet again.”
The Ely family was torn apart in 2019 when actor son Cameron was reportedly in the early stages of CTE and fatally stabbed his mother and the actor's wife. TMZ. A Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputy then shot and killed Cameron, the newspaper reported.
American actor Ron Ely stands on a tree branch in a loincloth to promote the American television series Tarzan, circa 1966. An adventure series based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-). (1950), in which Ely starred as “Tarzan.” (Photo courtesy of Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Ely's career It started in the 1950s. He got his big break in 1966 when he played “Tarzan” for 57 episodes. He served in this role from 1966 to 1968. His other credits include Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, L.A. Law, and Doc Savage: Man of Bronze, to name a few. According to TMZ, he appeared in numerous other “Tarzan” projects during his career and wrote two novels in his later years. (Related: Celebrities react to Liam Payne's sudden death)
The beloved actor is survived by Kirsten and another daughter, Caitland. Fans and loved ones have collectively mourned the loss, sharing an outpouring of love on social media.
