Ron Ely’s Marital History Revealed: Family Tragedy with His Wife and Son as the Tarzan Star Passes Away at 86

Ron Ely passed away on September 29, 2024, at the age of 86, a fact recently confirmed by his daughter Kristen via social media. In addition to Kristen, the esteemed actor is survived by two other children, Kaitland and Cameron, from his marriage with Valerie Lundeen.

The exact cause of Ron Ely’s death remains undisclosed as of now. In a heartfelt tribute shared on Instagram on Wednesday, October 23, Kristen described her father as “strong and protective.”

Kristen referred to her father as a “role model and inspiration,”emphasizing the respect he earned due to his modesty. She expressed:

“My father was someone that people called a hero. He was an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man, and leader. He created a powerful wave of positive influence wherever he went. The impact he had on others is something that I have never witnessed in any other person – there was something truly magical about him.”

Kristen added that those close to Ron were fully aware of the lengths he went to “facilitate the dreams of those he loved.”She further highlighted:

“My greatest comfort is knowing that my dad is with my momma and my brother. It is also my greatest sadness because I miss them all so much that it’s etched into my soul. I will proudly carry all of my favorite pieces of them – lovingly cemented into my heart – until we all meet again.”

Ron Ely gained fame primarily for his role as Tarzan in the NBC series, where he starred as the titular character. His acting career began with the 1958 romantic musical film South Pacific, and he also hosted Face the Music. Additionally, he portrayed significant roles in films like Once Before I Die and Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze.

Tragic Incident Involving Ron Ely’s Family

Born in Hereford, Texas, he married Valerie Lundeen in 1984 after a brief marriage to Helen Janet Triplet that lasted around two years. Ron and Valerie shared three children from their union.

In October 2019, a tragic incident unfolded when an unidentified woman was found dead with stab wounds at Ron Ely’s residence in California. At the time, Ron was not present, and the woman was later confirmed to be Valerie, as reported by People magazine.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office later revealed that Ron Ely’s son Cameron was involved in the incident and was ultimately shot by deputies.

According to ABC 7, officers responded to calls about a family disturbance, discovering Valerie’s deceased body upon arrival. As they searched the premises and surrounding areas, they eventually located Cameron outside the property.

A report from the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office indicated that Cameron was shot over 20 times. It noted that deputies found him on a dimly lit driveway, where he had a knife wound to his neck.

The deputies ordered Cameron to lay down several times; however, he allegedly threatened them, claiming to have a gun.

Ron Ely’s Son Died After Police Encounter

The report from the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office indicated that police assessed Cameron after the shooting. They discovered various items, including an iPhone and a plastic bag containing a white substance, later identified as cocaine. The report stated:

“All four deputies reported that they feared Ely had a weapon until the moment they handcuffed him, rolled him onto his back, and patted him down. Medics arrived swiftly as they had been staging nearby. They pronounced Ely dead at the scene.”

In the aftermath, Ron Ely filed a lawsuit against the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, asserting that his son had been surrendering to police when he was fatally shot. Legal documents obtained by People magazine indicated claims that five officers failed to render medical assistance to Valerie after discovering her lifeless body.

The lawsuit alleged that Cameron was shot “without warning or legal justification.”Meanwhile, The Blast released a recording of a 911 call from the day of the incident, in which a male caller stated that his father had attempted to attack his mother.

As the dispatcher made a follow-up call, the caller struggled to breathe and was in distress, prompting deputies to be dispatched. During the response, officers communicated with Ron Ely, who informed them that Cameron was responsible for the attack on Valerie and claimed he had fled in a vehicle.

According to USA Today, Santa Barbara District Attorney Joyce Dudley characterized the occurrence as a “justifiable homicide,”indicating that the deputies would not face charges.

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