Tarzan and Doc Savage actor Ron Ely has died
Ron Ely, who played Tarzan in the 1960s TV series, has died aged 86.
The actor passed away at his home in Los Alamos, California, on 29 September, his daughter Kirsten Casale Ely said.
The 6’4″, muscular actor helped form the modern image of author Edgar Rice Burroughs’ early 20th century fictional creation, Tarzan.
He also played the title character in the 1975 action film Doc Savage: The Man Of Bronze.
Pic: Moviestore/Shutterstock
He said in interviews he did his own stunts on Tarzan and worked directly with the tigers, chimpanzees and other animals that were the shirtless character’s friends.
“They first tried to cast a former American football player called Mike Henry but he did not like chimpanzees and from the moment he got on set, things went south in a hurry,” Ely said in an interview with the Daily Express in 2013.
Henry was attacked by a chimp while the pilot was being filmed, which injured his jaw and resulted in Ely being cast as his replacement at the last moment.
“I met with them on a Monday and when they offered me the role I thought, ‘no way do I want to step into that bear trap. You do Tarzan and you are stamped for life’,” Ely told the Express.
“Was I ever right! But my agent convinced me it was a quality show and was going to work. So on the Friday I was on a plane to Brazil to shoot the first episode.”
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Ely as Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze in a passionate embrace with Pamela Hensley. Pic: Everett/Shutterstock
Family tragedy
In 2019 Ely’s 62-year-old wife Valerie Lundeen Ely was stabbed to death at their home in Santa Barbara, California, by their son Cameron Ely.
The 30-year-old was then shot and killed by police. An autopsy on Cameron, a former college American Football star, revealed he was in the early stages of CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that can be caused by repeated blows to the head.
Ely, who was at home during the stabbing, challenged the prosecutor’s report that said his son’s shooting was justified.
Ely continued to appear in a variety of TV and film roles, wrote two detective novels, and twice hosted the Miss America beauty pageant.
He essentially retired in 2001 to spend more time with his family.
He is survived by his daughters, Kirsten Casale Ely and Kaitland Ely Sweet.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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