Actor Ron Ely, widely remembered for his role as Tarzan in the 1960s television series, has died at the age of 86. While he was once celebrated as a symbol of strength and adventure on screen, the final years of his life were overshadowed by profound personal tragedy involving the deaths of his wife and son.
Ely became a household name portraying Tarzan on NBC from 1966 to 1968. With his athletic build, charm, and willingness to perform many of his own stunts, he brought a dynamic and modern interpretation to the iconic jungle hero. His version of Tarzan stood out for being intelligent and articulate, reflecting a more refined take on the character during that era. The role made him one of television’s most recognizable action stars of the 1960s.
After Tarzan, Ely continued working steadily in film and television, appearing in projects such as Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze and guest-starring on popular series including Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and Sea Hunt. He later transitioned into hosting, most notably serving as the presenter of the Miss America pageant in 1980 and 1981. By the early 2000s, Ely had largely stepped away from Hollywood, choosing a quieter life with his family in Santa Barbara, California.
That sense of calm was violently disrupted in October 2019. Ely’s wife of 35 years, Valerie Lundeen Ely, was found fatally stabbed in their Hope Ranch home. She was 62 years old. Authorities identified the couple’s 30-year-old son, Cameron Ely, as the suspect. Deputies responding to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance discovered Valerie’s body inside the residence.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Cameron was later located outside the home. Officers stated that they believed he posed a serious threat and, after failing to resolve the situation verbally, fatally shot him at the scene. Ron Ely was inside the home during the incident but was not physically injured. He was transported to a hospital afterward due to the extreme emotional trauma.
Valerie Lundeen Ely had led a notable life prior to the tragedy. A former flight attendant, she earned several pageant titles, including Miss Airline International in 1980 and Miss Florida USA in 1981, later competing in the Miss USA pageant. Around the same period, Ron Ely was hosting the Miss America competition. The two met shortly afterward and married in 1984.
Together, they raised three children—Kirsten, Kaitland, and Cameron—and maintained a largely private family life despite Ely’s fame. Friends described Valerie as warm, devoted, and deeply focused on her family. In 2018, the couple celebrated becoming grandparents when their daughter Kaitland welcomed a son.
The deaths of Valerie and Cameron shocked both the local community and the entertainment industry. In the aftermath, Ron Ely filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, claiming that deputies used excessive force in the shooting of his son. The suit alleged that Cameron was attempting to surrender and was not an immediate danger when he was shot multiple times. It also raised concerns about how authorities handled the emergency call and the medical response following the shooting. The case drew renewed attention to broader issues surrounding police use of force, particularly in emotionally charged domestic situations.
Following the tragedy, Ely withdrew almost entirely from public life. Those close to him said the loss of both his wife and son deeply affected him, despite the strength and discipline he had displayed throughout his career. Once known for his commanding physical presence, Ely spent his final years seeking privacy and healing.
Born in 1938 in Hereford, Texas, and raised in Amarillo, Ely attended the University of Texas at Austin before pursuing acting. His success as Tarzan came at age 28 and defined his legacy, even as he explored writing later in life, publishing adventure novels such as Night Shadows in 1994. Though his acting work slowed in the late 1990s, he briefly returned to the screen in the 2014 television film Expecting Amish.
Colleagues and friends often described Ely as thoughtful, disciplined, and fiercely devoted to his family. His long marriage to Valerie was viewed as rare in Hollywood, and he frequently spoke about leaving fame behind to focus on raising his children and enjoying a simpler life away from Los Angeles.
Ron Ely’s passing in 2025 closes the chapter on a life marked by both public success and private heartbreak. While his legacy will forever be tied to his iconic portrayal of Tarzan, many now remember him equally for the dignity and resilience he showed while enduring unimaginable loss.
He is survived by his daughters, Kirsten and Kaitland, as well as his grandchildren. Though the tragedies of 2019 remain a painful part of his story, Ron Ely continues to be remembered by fans as a symbol of quiet strength—on screen and beyond it.