History of Ron Ely in Timeline
Ronald Pierce Ely is an American actor and novelist. He was born in Hereford, Texas, and grew up in Amarillo. He is best known for his role as Tarzan in the 1966 NBC series Tarzan. He also played the lead role in the film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. After his acting career, Ely penned two published novels: "Saint Valentine" in 1994 and "Night Shadows" in 1995.
June 21, 1938: Birth of Ron Ely
On June 21, 1938, Ronald Pierce Ely, known as Ron Ely, was born in Hereford, Texas.
1958: Early Acting Roles for Ely
Before achieving fame, Ron Ely appeared in supporting roles in films like "South Pacific" and "The Fiend Who Walked the West" in 1958.
1959: Ely in "The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker"
Ron Ely continued to build his acting resume with an appearance in the film "The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker" in 1959.
1959: Ely Marries High School Sweetheart
Ron Ely married his high school sweetheart, Helen Janet Triplet, in 1959.
1960: Ely Stars in "The Aquanauts"
Ron Ely landed a starring role in the television series "The Aquanauts", which ran from 1960 to 1961.
July 1961: Ely's First Marriage Ends in Divorce
Ron Ely's marriage to Helen Janet Triplet ended in divorce in July of 1961.
1961: Conclusion of "The Aquanauts"
The television series "The Aquanauts", featuring Ron Ely, came to an end in 1961.
1966: Ron Ely Stars as Tarzan
Ron Ely landed his breakthrough role as Tarzan in the NBC series "Tarzan", which aired from 1966 to 1968.
1966: Ely Lands Tarzan Role
Ron Ely's impressive physique and acting skills led him to win the coveted role of Tarzan in 1966.
1966: Ely in "The Night of the Grizzly"
Sharing the screen with Clint Walker, Ron Ely appeared in the western adventure film "The Night of the Grizzly" in 1966.
1968: End of "Tarzan" Series
The NBC series "Tarzan", starring Ron Ely, concluded after a successful two-year run.
1975: Ely Takes on Doc Savage
Showcasing his athleticism and screen presence, Ron Ely took on the title role in the film "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze" in 1975.
1975: Ely's Stature Earns Him Roles
Thanks to his height and build, Ron Ely landed the title role in "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze" in 1975 and secured various guest appearances.
1978: Ely in "Slavers"
Expanding his filmography, Ron Ely took on a role in Jürgen Goslar's slavery movie "Slavers" in 1978.
1978: Ely's Notable TV Appearances
In 1978, Ron Ely showcased his versatility with appearances in "Fantasy Island" as Mark Antony and in "Wonder Woman" for a two-part episode.
1980: Ely Hosts "Face the Music" and Miss America Pageant
Adding a musical element to his career, Ron Ely hosted the game show "Face the Music" in 1980. He also returned as the host of the Miss America Pageant that year.
1980: Ely Hosts Miss America Pageant
Ron Ely stepped into the role of host for the Miss America Pageant in 1980, bringing his charm and charisma to the event.
1981: Ely's Continued Hosting Gigs
In 1981, Ron Ely continued to demonstrate his hosting skills with another year at the helm of the Miss America Pageant.
1981: Ely's Second Year as Miss America Host
Ron Ely continued his hosting duties for the Miss America Pageant in 1981, marking his second consecutive year in the role.
1984: Ely Marries Valerie Lundeen
Ron Ely married former Miss Florida USA, Valerie Lundeen, in 1984. The couple went on to have three children together.
1987: Ely Takes on "Sea Hunt" Revival
Stepping into the role previously played by Lloyd Bridges, Ron Ely starred in the revival of the adventure series "Sea Hunt", which ran from 1987 to 1988.
1988: End of "Sea Hunt" Revival
The revival of the adventure series "Sea Hunt", featuring Ron Ely, concluded in 1988.
1991: Ely Plays a Retired Superman
In a unique twist, Ron Ely portrayed a retired Superman from an alternate reality in the 1991 two-part episode "The Road to Hell" of the "Superboy" series.
1992: Ely Guest Stars in "Tarzan the Hunted"
Returning to a familiar theme, Ron Ely guest-starred in the 1992 episode "Tarzan the Hunted" of the syndicated "Tarzán" TV series, showcasing his connection to the iconic character.
1994: Ely Publishes First Novel
Expanding his creative pursuits, Ron Ely embarked on a professional writing career, publishing his first mystery novel, "Night Shadows", featuring private investigator Jake Sands, in 1994.
1995: Ely's Second Novel, "East Beach"
Continuing his foray into writing, Ron Ely published his second mystery novel, "East Beach," featuring the return of private investigator Jake Sands, in 1995.
2001: Ely Retires from Acting
After a long and successful career, Ron Ely decided to retire from acting in 2001.
2001: Ely's Later Television Appearances
Before retiring from acting, Ron Ely made appearances on television shows such as "Sheena" and "Renegade" until approximately 2001.
2014: Ely Returns to Acting
After a period of retirement, Ron Ely made a return to acting with an appearance in the television movie "Expecting Amish" in 2014.
October 15, 2019: Tragedy Strikes Ely Family
On October 15, 2019, a tragic incident occurred at Ron Ely's home in Hope Ranch, California. His wife, Valerie Lundeen, was found dead, and their son, Cameron, was killed by police after being identified as a suspect in his mother's death.
October 2020: Ely Challenges District Attorney's Decision
In October 2020, Ron Ely challenged the Santa Barbara District Attorney's decision to rule the police shooting of his son, Cameron, as justifiable homicide. An autopsy later revealed that Cameron had been suffering from the early stages of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death.