Ron Ely, known for his iconic role as Tarzan in the 1960s TV series, married Valerie Lundeen in 1984. Valerie, a former flight attendant and beauty queen, won Miss Airline International in 1980 and Miss Florida, USA in 1981. The couple had three children and were married for 35 years until Valerie’s tragic death. In October 2019, Valerie was fatally stabbed by their son, Cameron Ely, at their Santa Barbara home. Authorities responded to the scene, and during a confrontation, Cameron was shot and killed by deputies.
Following the tragedy, Ron filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, claiming that Cameron was surrendering when he was shot. However, a federal jury rejected the lawsuit in 2022, with the sheriff’s office asserting that the use of deadly force was justified. Valerie’s death and the events that followed left Ron to cope with immense grief, marking a dark chapter in his life after years of public fame.
