actor

Wife of ‘Tarzan' Actor Ron Ely Found Dead, Responding Deputies Kill Son

The former "Tarzan" actor was not injured.

The wife of "Tarzan" actor Ron Ely was found dead with multiple stab wounds, and the suspect – the couple's 30-year-old son – was shot dead by responding deputies at the actor's Santa Barbara County home Tuesday night, the sheriff's department said in a statement.

The deadly chain of events began before 8:15 p.m., when deputies responded to a family disturbance call in the 4100 block of Mariposa Drive in the Hope Ranch neighborhood of Santa Barbara and found 62-year-old Valerie Lundeen Ely dead, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies found suspect Cameron Ely while searching the property. The suspect posed a threat and four deputies fired and killed the 30-year-old, the sheriff's office said.

The department said it was conducting criminal, coroner's and administrative investigations surrounding the incident. Autopsies of both the victim and the suspect were pending, and the names of the involved deputies were not immediately released.

Ely was not injured. The actor is best known for his portrayal of Tarzan in NBC's 1966 series by the same name and for his lead role in "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze."

A representative for Ely did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

Contact Us