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Vintage actor Steve Forrest is best known for his Golden Globe winning performance as “Dirk DeJong” in the film So Big. Other notable roles were “Capt. Harding” in The Longest Day, “Conrad Hunter” in North Dallas Forty, which starred Nick Nolte and Mac Davis, and as “Greg Savitt” in Mommie Dearest.
Vintage actor Kevin Sorbo sure has the body to play Hercules and he did. In the early 1990s he starred in five made- for-TV movies such as Hercules and the Amazon Women, Hercules in the Underworld, and Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur. The television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys came next and ran for 111 episodes. Sorbo’s other long running series was Andromeda in the role of “Captain Dylan Hunt”. Sorbo recently completed the film Paradox, a sci-fi thriller based on the comic book series.
Shirtless, seductive, vintage actor Wolf Larson, is the last member of our “Men of Tarzan” and a mighty fine specimen he is! Larson appeared as Tarzan in early 90s television series Tarzan which ran from 1991-1994. He next appeared in the starring role of “Det. Chester ‘Chase’ McDonald” in the series L.A. Heat. Larson’s film credits include Mad About You, Storm Chasers, and Hostile Force.
Sexy Vintage hunk Joe Lara starred as Tarzan in a made for TV movie called Tarzan in Manhattan. He then appeared in two episodes of Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, and produced all twenty-two episodes. His two most notable film roles were “Kraft” in the action thriller Warhead, and “Ponytail” in another action film, Armstrong
With a body you could gaze upon forever,Casper Van Dien played a more recent Tarzan in the 1998 film Tarzan and the Lost City. His breakthrough role came before the Tarzan film when he played “Johnny Rico” in the sci-fi film Starship Troopers. He continued the role in Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. He was also part of the all star cast of Sleepyhollow which featured Johnny Depp and Christina Ricca and just completed a made-for-TV film Turbulent Skies in the lead role of “Tom”.
Christopher Lambert is best known for his portrayal of naked, untamed, jungle stud Tarzan in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. In this 1984 film Tarzan is rescued and brought to Greystoke manor in an attempt to civilize him. Lambert looks mighty fine as the mostly nude Tarzan and seems to clean up pretty well in civilized society.
Ronald Pierce Ely, was born in Hereford TX. He was the first TV Tarzan in the series which lasted from 1966-1968. Prior to Tarzan, Ely had only small film roles and a co0starring role in the brief TV series The Aquanauts. The Tarzan series was the height of Ely’s career. After the series ended he made guest appearances on many television shows such as Ironside, Marcus Welby, M.D., The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, a retired “Superman” in The Adventures of Superboy, and Renegade. He also wrote two mystery novels; Night Shadows and East Beach.
In an interview Ely said. “Ever read the original Tarzan stories? They’re beautiful. About an educate man who returns to the environment he knows best, the jungle. There he seeks truth, honor, and man’s lost humanity to man. This Tarzan is the part I’ve been waiting for all my life.” Hmmm…very interesting
Gordon Scott was born Gordon Merill Werschkul in Portland, OR and was known for his portrayal of Tarzan in five films. They were: Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle, Tarzan and the Lost Safari, Tarzan’s Fight for Life, Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure and Tarzan the Magnificent. Unfortunately for Scott, after the Tarzan roles he never made it out of the B-movie level. Possibly his statement that “Tarzan was ideal for me because I didn’t have too much dialog” had something to do with that.
Jacques O’Mahoney was born in Chicago, IL. After moving to Los Angeles he became a stuntman doubling for actors such as Gregory Peck, Errol Flynn and John Wayne. His first on-screen acting roles were in Three Stooges films where Columbia Studios spotted his acting skilled and gave him starring roles in adventure serials. Mahoney eventually landed roles in three Tarzan films. He played villain “Coy Banton” in Tarzan the Magnificent and the main character in Tarzan Goes to India and Tarzan’s Three Challenges.
In addition to the Tarzan films, Mahoney appeared in many films and in television episodes of shows such as Wagon Train, 77 Sunset Strip, Kung Fu, and B. J. and the Bear. He was stepfather to actress Sally Field and appeared with her in the comedy film The End.
Clarence Linden Crabbe, born in Oakland, CA, was another Olympic medal winner to portray the character of “Tarzan”. He was working in an uncredited role in the film That’s My Boy when MGM tested, and rejected, him for the role of “Tarzan”. The following year he was cast as “Tarzan” in Tarzan the Fearless which was the only Tarzan film he made. He did, however, go on to star in more than one hundred movies, among them in the popular Flash Gordon serial in the lead role, Buck Rogers, several “Billy the Kid” films and 23 films as “Billy Carson”.
Buster Crabbe is the only actor to play Tarzan, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers characters who were the top three comic strip heroes of the 1930s.