Tarzan

TARZAN. John Clayton-Viscount Greystoke is a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan is a feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes who later experiences civilization and then rejects it to return to the wild as a heroic adventurer. Tarzan first appeared in the novel Tarzan of The Apes (first published in magazines in 1912 & books in 1914) and subsequently in innumerable works in other media publications and films, both authorized and unauthorized. Actors who have played the role include ; Frank Merrill (1928-29) / Johnny Weissmuller (1932-1948) / Lex Barker (1949) / Gordon Scott (1955) and Ron Ely (1966-68). Johnny Weissmuller is unquestionably the most famous making the MGM and RKO films of the 1930-40's including ; Tarzan The Ape Man (1932) / Tarzan & His Mate (1934) / Tarzan Escapes (1936) / Tarzan Finds a Son (1939) / Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941) / Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942) / Tarzan Triumphs (1943) / Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943) / Tarzan and The Amazons (1945) / Tarzan and The Leopard Woman (1946) / Tarzan and The Huntress (1947) and Tarzan and The Mermaids (1948). In the majority of these films Weissmuller was supported by Irish actress Maureen O'Sullivan (Jane Parker) and child actor Johnny Sheffield (Boy). Johnny Weissmuller died of Pulmonary Edema aged 79 on 20th January 1984. Maureen O'Sullivan died of heart disease aged 87 on June 23rd 1998. Johnny Sheffield died of a heart attack after a fall aged 79 on October 15th 2010.