What was Ron Ely's net worth?
Ron Ely was an American actor and novelist who had a net worth of $7 million at the time of his death. Ron Ely died on September 29, 2024, at the age of 86. As an actor, he was best known for his portrayal of Tarzan in NBC's 1966-1968 television series. The show aired 57 episodes over two seasons.
Early Life
Ron Ely was born in Hereford, Texas, on June 2, 1938. Before becoming an actor, he attended the University of Texas at Austin and worked briefly as a motion picture stuntman.
Career
Ely's acting career began in the late 1950s with small roles in films and television shows. His breakthrough came when he was cast as Tarzan, taking over the iconic role for the television series. Unlike previous Tarzans, Ely performed his own stunts, resulting in numerous injuries throughout the series' run. His Tarzan was also notably different in that the character spoke in complete sentences, unlike the broken English of earlier interpretations.
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Following "Tarzan," Ely appeared in various television shows and films throughout the 1970s and '80s. He hosted the Miss America pageant from 1980 to 1981. He also played the lead role in "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze" (1975), a film adaptation of the popular pulp fiction hero. Though the film wasn't a major success, it has since gained a cult following.
Beyond acting, Ely pursued other interests, including writing. He authored several mystery novels including "Night Shadows" and "East Beach."
Family Tragedy
Tragically, Ely's life was marked by a devastating incident in October 2019 when his wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely, was killed by their son Cameron at their Santa Barbara home. Cameron was subsequently killed by responding deputies. This tragic event shocked many who knew the family and the entertainment community.
Personal Life & Real Estate
Ron was married twice. His first marriage lasted from 1959 to 1961. Ron and Valerie Lundeen, a former Miss Florida, were married from 1984 until her death in 2019.
For over four decades up to his death, Ron owned a 6,000-square-foot mansion set on over an acre in Santa Barbara, California. In April 2015, Ron and Valerie this home for sale for $5.2 million. Tragically, Valerie was murdered in the home in October 2019. Ron and Valerie had listed the home for sale in September 2019 for $5.1 million. After Valerie's death, Ron made the home a rental for $20-25,000 per month.
(Photo by Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic)
