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Ron Ely, the actor best known for his role on the TV series βTarzanβ has died.
The star passed away at the age of 86. His daughter, Kirsten Ely, announced the news on Instagram. She confirmed her fatherβs death to Fox News Digital.
βThe world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known β and I have lost my dad,β Kirsten shared in a statement posted on Instagram Wednesday. βMy father was someone that people called a hero. He was an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man and leader. He created a powerful wave of positive influence wherever he went.β
βThe impact he had on others is something that I have never witnessed in any other person β there was something truly magical about him. This is how the world knew him. I knew him as my dad β and what a heaven sent honor that has been. To me, he hung the moon.β
βMy fatherβs life story was one of relentless perseverance, unending dedication to his family and friends, courage to do what was right, and willing sacrifice to facilitate the dreams of those he loved,β Kirsten added. βIt was also a story of joy and love β something everyone close to him had the privilege of experiencing. Once you knew my fatherβs love, the world grew to be a brighter and more meaningful place.βΒ
βI am doing my best to walk this path of loss with the strength and grace that I know he would want for me,β she continued. βI am picking up the pieces of my heart that feel like pieces of him β and cementing those firmly in place before I pick up the rest of the broken bits. It makes me feel like part of him is still here β and I need that β and the world needs that.β
βMy greatest comfort is knowing that my dad is with my momma and my brother. It is also my greatest sadness because I miss them all so much that itβs etched into my soul. I will proudly carry all of my favorite pieces of them β lovingly cemented into my heart β until we all meet again.β
Ely passed away on Sept. 29 at the home of one of his daughters in the vicinity of Santa Barbara, Calif., according to The New York Times.
The actor starred on βTarzanβ for the entirety of its 57 episode run on NBC from 1966 to 1968.
Ely first made a name for himself in the 1950s, working in supporting roles on popular TV shows such as βFather Knows Best,β βHow to Marry a Millionaireβ and βThe Many Loves of Dobie Gillisβ before breaking out on βTarzan.β
The series modernized the famed jungle hero, shedding the image of a primitive creature capable only of monosyllabic grunts for a modern man born who returns to his home in the jungle after spending time amidst the civilized world.
NBCβs βTarzanβ did keep the titular protagonistβs chimpanzee sidekick, Cheetah, but omitted the character of Jane, who frequently appeared as his love interest in Tarzan comics.
Ely kept acting after the series wrapped in 1968. He starred in the 1975 action adventure movie βDoc Savage: The Man of Bronze,β and guest starred on TV shows all the way up to the 90s, appearing on hits such as βWonder Woman,β βThe Love Boat,β βFantasy Island,ββMarcus Welby, M.D.β and βLA Law.β
He paused his work as an actor during the 90s to help raise his three children Kirsten, Kaitland and Cameron. The star returned to the small screen in 2014 with the TV movie, βExpecting Amish,β about a young woman on the verge of joining the Amish church when a trip to Hollywood gives her a glimpse of the world beyond.
βI stepped out of acting to raise a family and be able to spend more time with them here in Santa Barbara,β Ely said in interview with The Fresno Bee at the time of the movieβs release.
βNow, all the kids are through college with advance degrees. My family asked me, βWhat are you hanging around for?β I started looking around and this film came up. It felt so good making the movie, I wish I had never left.β
Elyβs life was also marked by tragedy. His wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely, was stabbed to death in 2019 at their home in Santa Barbara. When police responded to calls of a βfamily disturbanceβ at the home, they shot and killed Elyβs son Cameron. Law enforcement claimed Cameron killed his mother.Β
In 2020, Ely sued the Santa Barbara County Sheriffβs Department and four deputies, accusing them of negligent and excessive deadly force. In Elyβs lawsuit, he claimed Cameron had his hands up when sheriffs shot him. He also alleged deputies failed to provide timely medical care to Cameron and Valerie.
A federal jury ruled against Ely in 2022, deciding that sheriffsβ βuse of deadly force against Cameron Ely was justified and lawful under the circumstances.β