Actors Who Have Played Tarzan

Elmo Lincoln, the big barrel chested actor was the first to bring Tarzan to the big screen in the 1918 silent film, "Tarzan of The Apes". Edgar Rice Burroughs wasn't impressed with Elmo and didn't want him in the role, instead, he preferred actor Stellen Windrow who at the out break of WWI, gave up acting and joined the military, thus leaving the role of Tarzan unmanned until Elmo was chosen.

A second film, also starring Lincoln, called "Romance of Tarzan" was also released in 1918.

Lincoln would star one more time as the famous Ape Man, in the 15 part movie serial, "The Adventures of Tarzan" in 1921.

Elmo died of a heart attack in 1952, he was 63 years old.

Just a side note here.... the first official Tarzan as an adult was Elmo, but the first child actor to play Tarzan was Gordon Griffith who did so in Elmo's first movie.

James had been a foot ball player at Indiana University and after graduating in 1921, he moved to Arizona where he coached football while acting on the side. He move to California and in 1924 he won a role in the film "Leatherstocking", but still kept his job coaching a foot ball team at Glendale High School in California.

His career and life took a major turn when he was invited to a party given by Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. At the party, James met Joan Burroughs, Edgars daughter and was smitten (they married in 1928). His physical appearance so impressed Rice Burroughs, that he was offered right there, the job of playing Tarzan in the next feature film. In 1927, "Tarzan and The Golden Lion" was released. While it was popular with audiences, it was widely panned by critics. This was James' first and last movie role as Tarzan.

However, he and his wife Jane were the voices of Tarzan and Jane on national radio between 1932-34. The couple would remain married until Joan's death in 1973. James would pass away December 11, 1983.

Frank Merrill held many job titles during his lifetime; gymnast, police officer, stuntman, actor. He was the fifth actor to portray Tarzan on the big screen.

Frank had worked as Elmo Lincoln's stunt double in the 1921 movie serial, "The Adventures of Tarzan" and in 1928 he would find himself wearing the loincloth in the movie serial, "Tarzan the Mighty", replacing actor/stuntman Joe Bonomo.

In 1929, another turn as Tarzan came in the film "Tarzan The Tiger". While this film was mostly silent, there were a few parts that had sound. It was decided that Frank's voice was unsuitable for "talkies" and his career was virtually over after only two outings on the big screen.

This suited Merrill fine, as he found a career he liked better; working with children. He got a job working at the Los Angeles Parks Commission, as a recreation director and volunteer gymnastics instructor. Frank passed away December 11, 1955 at the age of 62.

Weissmuller was a swimmer in the 1920's and considered one of the best in the world, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze during his athletic career.

His success as an athlete made him some what famous and in 1929 he signed a contract to be a model for BVD's which brought him more attention and in that same year he made his first movie appearance in the film "Glorifying the American Girl" as an Adonis wearing just a fig leaf.

But his acting career really didn't start until 1932 when he signed on to play the role of Tarzan in the film, "Tarzan the Ape Man" which was a huge success and Johnny was on his way to stardom. He would star in a total of 12 films before giving up his loincloth in order to assume the role of "Jungle Jim" based on the comic strip character Jim Bradly. He would make 13 Jungle Jim movies before retiring from the movie business.

John died January 20, 1984, at the age of 79 from pulmonary edema.

Buster was an Olympic medalist in swimming in the 1928 and 1932 Olympic games. His powerful body and his athletic skills made him the logical choice for Johnny Weismuller's replacement, or so the studios thought.

Buster's first role as Tarzan came in 1933, "Tarzan The Fearless", a 12 chapter movie serial. This would be Buster's only role as Tarzan, but he did star in a few "Tarzan-like" roles. But it wasn't the jungle that would prove to be Buster's claim to fame, no... outer space was calling his name. He took on the role of "Flash Gordon" in 1936 and most remember him best in that role.

Buster died April 23, 1983 and is buried in "Green Acres Memorial Park" in Scottsdale Arizona.

Herman was a Olympic silver medalist shot putter in the 1928 games in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

In 1929 he came to Hollywood where actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr arranged to get him a screen test at Paramount Studios. He got a role in a film called "Touchdown" and injured his shoulder while filming the movie. This was a bad break for hm, because MGM had decided they wanted him to play Tarzan in the new movie they were going to be filming. His injury prevented him from taking on the role and it would go to Johnny Weismuller and make him a star.

But, Brix got his chance to play Tarzan in 1935. He starred in a low budget film version of Tarzan called "The New Adventures of Tarzan" produced by a newly formed "Burroughs-Tarzan, Inc". Since Burroughs had a hand in the making of this film, our Tarzan resembled the Tarzan of the books. He was well spoken, educated, cultured and well mannered. The movie was released to movie theaters in 1935. In 1938 a second film, based on footage from the 1935 movie was put together and released as "Tarzan and The Green Godddess".

Brix eventually changed his name to Bruce Bennett when he joined Columbia Studios. There he got to work in films like "Sahara", "Mildred Pierce", "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" and more and was considered a fairly competent actor.

He lived a full life, dying at age 100 in 2007.

A Colorado farm boy who won a Gold medal in decathlon in the Olympic Games of 1936. He was cast as Tarzan in 1938 and made just one film "Tarzan's Revenge". His acting was panned and he never made another film, instead turning his attention to the insurance business.

Glen died in 1974.

Denny was playing basketball at UCLA when he was discovered by a Hollywood agent and signed to a contract with MGM Studios. In 1959 he would become the first blond haired Tarzan in the film "Tarzan The Ape Man". It was a cheap movie, using a lot of it's footage from previously filmed Tarzan movies and it would be his only venture as the Ape Man.

He would make numerous guest appearances on many different shows. You might remember a fun turn in the series "Gilligan's Island" where he played a Tarzan-like character called "Tongo the Ape Man" in the episode called "Our Vines Have Tender Apes."

Denny would then go on to be the "Gorton Fisherman" on Gorton's TV commercials but in recent years he has lived in Las Vegas with his wife and teaches classes on how to relax.

At 6'4" tall, he seemed the perfect fit for the role. A total of five films were made beginning in 1949 with "Tarzan's Magic Fountain", "Tarzan and The Slave Girl" (1950), "Tarzan's Peril" (1951), "Tarzan's Savage Fury" (1952) and finally "Tarzan and The She-Devil" in 1953.

You might also remember that Lex was married to two actresses... Arlene Dahl from 1951 to 52 and maybe his most famous marriage to Lana Turner from 1953 to 57.

Sadly, Lex died May 11, 1973, of a heart attack, just three days after his 54th birthday

In 1953 when Gordon was working as a life guard in Las Vegas, he was spotted by a Hollywood agent who believed that he had the right physique to play Tarzan. He was introduced to producer Sy Weintraub who signed him to a seven year contract.

Gordon would replace Lex Barker as the swinging ape man and he would make six Tarzan films starting in 1955 with "Tarzan's Hidden Jungle", "Tarzan and the Lost Safari" (1957) "Tarzan and The Trappers" (1958) "Tarzan's Fight For Life" (1958) "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure" (1959) and "Tarzan the Magnificent" (1960). Gordon was considered by many to be the best Tarzan.

When Scott left the Tarzan role, he moved to Italy where he became a popular action star making the "sword and sorcerer" kinds of films.

Scott died in Baltimore Maryland in 2007 from complications from heart surgery.

In 1948 a replacement was needed for Tarzan as Johnny Weissmuller had decided to leave the role. Jock auditioned for it, but would lose out to Lex Barker.

In 1962, producer Sy Weintraub decided that he wanted a new look for the ape man and 44 year old Jock Mahoney had it. He would assume the role of Tarzan and make just two films; "Tarzan Goes To India" (1962) and "Tarzan's Three Challenges" (1963). Mahoney's health was greatly affected by the work on the films, he suffered from dysentery and pneumonia.

It was then decided by Weintraub that he wanted a new Tarzan as he was considering a TV series. Jock was released from his contract and the search for a new Tarzan was on once again

Mike Henry was a line backer for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1958-61) and the Los Angeles Rams (1962-64) before turning his attention to acting. His did three Tarzan films in the 1960's; "Tarzan and the Valley of Gold"(1966), "Tarzan and The Great River" (1967) and finally "Tarzan and the Jungle Boy" (1968).

Working conditions on the Tarzan films were so horrible that he actually sued producer Sy Weintraub siting that he had to work in conditions that were detrimental to his health and welfare.

He was offered the role of Tarzan for the TV series that would eventually end up being played by Ron Ely.

Ron brought our favorite ape man to the small screen starting in 1966. This Tarzan was well educated and had returned to the jungle after getting tired of living in civilization.

The series ran for two years with a total of 57 episodes filmed. Ron would sustain a variety of injuries while making the series such as being bitten by a "tame" lion, breaking his shoulder, spraining both wrists, fracturing ribs and the list goes on. Part of the problem was that Ron insisted on doing his own stunts and he had no stuntman training. I guess artists are made to suffer, eh?

There were four Tarzan movies released to the big screen and they were mostly material from several two part episodes that were edited together.

1967--Tarzan's Jungle Rebellion
1968- Tarzan and the Four O' Clock War
1970- Tarzan's Deadly Silence
1971- Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones

Miles is more than just eye candy; while in college he studied political science and psychology and when he graduated he got a job as a prison counselor in the Tennessee penal system for several years before finally giving life in Hollywood a go.

His big break came as "Tarzan" to Bo Derek's "Jane" in the 1981 film, "Tarzan The Ape Man" written directed and produced by the Bo and hubby John. The movie was widely panned by critics, and while it's not the best Tarzan movie out there, it's not the worst. Bo, admitted that "Miles had the most beautiful body I have ever seen." and that is something coming from the woman known to millions as the "perfect 10".

Miles would go on to make, in Europe, a variety of those "sword and sorcerer" kinds of films like "Ator, The Fighting Eagle" and "Iron Warrior" as examples.

Christopher began getting small parts in French films in 1980. In 1984, he would successfully secure the role of Tarzan in the big screen "Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of The Apes". This film was hailed as being one that stayed the truest to the story of Tarzan as conceived by Burroughs.

Christopher would go on to make another film that probably he is best remembered for, "Highlander".

Wolf starred in the TV series, Tarzan that ran from 1991-94. Wolf moved to Los Angeles from Canada in 1985 and was discovered by Robert Marcucci an agent who believed that Wolf had star potential, but encouraged him to take acting classes to hone his natural abilities. Wolf took the advise, but also decided that he would open his own video/calendar production company called "Future World Productions".

The acting classes began to pay off as Wolf was rewarded with guest starring appearances in series like, "Simon and Simon", "Dynasty" and the day time soap, "Santa Barbara".

In 1991, he was cast as Tarzan in the series that ran for 75 episodes spanning 3 years.

Visit Wolf's Official Site to learn more about him.

Casper Van Dien is probably best remembered for his role as "Johnny Rico" in the film "Starship Troopers" back in 1997. Or, you might recall him as "Brom von Brunt" in Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow".

But, did you know that in 1998, Casper was cast as Tarzan in the film "Tarzan and the Lost City". It didn't set the box office on fire only earning about 2 million dollars. But, it did give us a guy who looks great in a loin cloth.

In 2003, actor Travis Fimmel would be cast as Tarzan on the WB Television Network .

The series, "Tarzan" was set in modern day New York City and was a modern update of Burroughs' classic story. Eight episodes were shown before the series was canceled.