Ron Ely, whose sophisticated spin on the character Tarzan was broadcast to televisions across the world, has died at the age of 86, his family said Wednesday.
The American actor’s title role on the 1960s television show “Tarzan” was an updated take on the grunting, vine-swinging hero, instead portraying him as a man educated in the modern world and returning to the jungle where he was raised.
Still, this more urbane Tarzan also cemented the modern image of the character in many people’s minds – with a musclebound, loincloth-wearing Ely accompanied by his chimpanzee sidekick.
He reportedly did his own stunts, which led to injuries while filming, including a lion bite.
After the two seasons of “Tarzan” wrapped, Ely continued acting – mostly on TV – through the 1990s, and took a role in the film “Expecting Amish” in 2014.
He was also the author of two detective novels. (Gulf News)