The killer son of Tarzan actor Ron Ely was a Harvard educated quarterback who enjoyed a charmed existence rubbing shoulders with his famous godfather Fess Parker and living at his parents’ exclusive property in Santa Barbara, DailyMail.com can reveal.
Cameron Ely, 30, was shot dead by officers on Tuesday after police found his mother Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, with multiple stab wounds shortly after 8pm.
His elderly father Ron, 81, who played the title character on the NBC series Tarzan in the 1960s, had identified him as the suspect to authorities.
Described as ‘supremely intelligent’ by university’s student newspaper, Cameron often posted pictures of his time studying at Harvard to his MySpace account in the early noughties. Scout.com said the budding footballer had an ‘ability to make good decisions’.
Tarzan actor Ron Ely’s wife Valerie was stabbed to death in their California home by their 30-year-old son, Cameron, who was then shot and killed by sheriff’s deputies, authorities said Wednesday. The 30-year-old, pictured, was a Harvard educated quarterback
A young Cameron with his godfather, Fess Parker. The western actor, who died in 2010, played Davy Crockett in a Walt Disney series. Cameron posted this image to his MySpace account
Valerie Lundeen (second right), the wife of actor Ron Elys (second left), was stabbed to death by their own son Cameron Ely (far left). They pose above with the couple’s son-in-law Jason (third from left), daughter Kaitland (third from right) and daughter Kirsten (far right) in 2016
Cameron signed as the Ivy League’s quarterback in 2007 after graduating his $50,000 a year boarding school, Phillips Exeter Academy, and images show him enjoying costume parties with friends and time with his family.
One such picture shows a young Cameron with his godfather, Fess Parker. The western actor, who died in 2010, played Davy Crockett in a Walt Disney series.
He proudly captioned the snap: ‘My godfather Fess Parker.’
In 2012 he joined his dad at an interview. After wandering away Ron commented: ‘Must have been [drawn away by] a pretty girl, because that’s the only thing that could draw him away.’
Little over a decade later he would be dead, after killing his mother and trying to blame the attack on his 81-year-old disabled father.
On Wednesday evening the Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Cameron posed a threat when they found him on the grounds of the home and four deputies then opened fire, according to TMZ.
There was no report of Ron Ely, who retired from acting to focus on his family in 2001, being injured. Authorities confirmed he was at the home during the stabbing and the shooting, and an earlier sheriff’s statement said an elderly man in the home was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Deputies found Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, pictured with Ron, dead with multiple stab wounds shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, a Santa Barbara County sheriff’s statement said
The couple’s home in Hope Ranch. The deputies talked to Ron Ely and identified his son, 30-year-old Cameron Ely, as the suspect, and found him outside the home in Hope Ranch, a suburb of luxury homes outside Santa Barbara, authorities said
Cameron Ely posed a threat to deputies, four of whom opened fire and killed him, the statement said. It did not say what he had done that was threatening
Cameron signed as the Ivy League’s quarterback in 2007 after graduating his $50,000 a year boarding school, Phillips Exeter Academy and images show him enjoying costume parties with friends and enjoying time with his sister Kiki, pictured
Cameron, pictured, reportedly called police after allegedly killing his mother, a former Miss Florida, but blamed the attack on his 81-year-old disabled father
In audio obtained by The Blast, the original caller to the emergency services was a young male who said his ‘father tried to attack the mother’.
The operator adds that when the authorities called back the caller sounded ‘out of breath, unintelligible and crying’.
On Wednesday afternoon Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Office was seen removing two bodies from Ely’s home – Valerie’s and her son’s.
Valerie and Ron had been married for 35 years and had three children together, Kirsten, Kaitland and Cameron.
The home in Hope Ranch was one of two addresses listed in public records for Cameron Ely.
At first Lt. Erik Raney of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office told CNN Ely told police a relative was involved in the death.
A body bag is taken out of the home of Ron and Valerie Ely on Wednesday
Video courtesy of KEYT
Police first responded to the Santa Barbara home for a domestic disturbance call around 8.15pm Tuesday and found an elderly woman dead inside suffering stab wounds.
Sheriff’s deputies searched the ranch grounds and found Cameron Ely hiding on the property. They said the male suspect ‘presented a threat’ and was armed. Video from the scene captured the moment four officers fired shots.
Cameron was shot dead at 9.40pm.
Raney said: ‘We wanted to make sure all the residents were safe while we searched the area.
‘We had initially called in the air support unit and neighboring law enforcement agencies to come help in the search and when we were able to locate the suspect on the property of the homicide, and after the confrontation, we lifted the shelter in place. We don’t believe there is any further threat to the public.’
Raney added: ‘We don’t know exactly how many shots were fired. We did have several deputies that were involved in the shooting. Fortunately all of our deputies are OK.’
Officers at the scene Wednesday. Police said the suspect was armed and presented as a threat. Video from the scene captured the moment police fired shots
A wheelchair, a toilet aid and a bag containing clothes is taken into Santa Barbara’s Cottage Hospital where Ron Ely is believed to be staying after his wife, Valerie Lundeen was stabbed to death by their son Cameron
On Wednesday a wheelchair and other items were seen being taken to Santa Barbara’s Cottage Hospital where Ron Elyn is believed to be staying after his wife was killed
No deputies were hurt in the incident.
Ely featured in a number of TV appearances during the 1960s but found his break playing the lead role in the 1966 NBC series Tarzan.
He also played the title role in 1975 movie Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze.
As well as a career studded with occasional parts on TV, Ely hosted the Miss America pageant between 1979 and 1981. He retired from acting in 2001 but did return for a part in a TV movie called Expecting Amish in 2014.
The famed actor said he finished with his on-screen career to spend time with his kids.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for the Ely family and Santa Barbara police for comment.
Actor Ron Ely and wife Valerie Lundeen pictured left at the Third Annual Cathy’s Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic on June 25, 1977. Ely, who is now 81, featured in a number of TV appearances during the 1960s but found his break playing the lead role in the 1966 NBC series Tarzan, right
Actor Ron Ely and family attend Second Annual Toys for Tots Benefit on December 19, 1992 at Hancock Park in Los Angeles, California. The couple had three children
Ely’s wife Valerie pictured with daughters Kirsten and Kaitland, left. Ron is pictured with his two daughters, right
Musclebound Tarzan who did his own stunts and won the hearts of baby-boomers
Ron Ely, 81, played the title character on the NBC series Tarzan, which ran from 1966 to 1968.
The tall, musclebound actor was not quite as well-known as Johnny Weismuller, the Olympic swimmer who played Tarzan, the character created by novelist Edgar Rice Burroughs, in movies in the 1930s and 1940s.
But Ely formed the image of the shirtless, loincloth-wearing character remembered by many in the baby-boom generation.
Ely said in interviews that he did his own stunts on the show, working directly and precariously with the tigers, chimps and other wild animals that were Tarzan’s friends and servants.Ely retired from acting to focus on his family in 2001.
Ely retired from acting to focus on his family in 2001. He is pictured here in December 1987
Ely’s Tarzan didn’t speak in the monosyllabic grunts often associated with the character. He was instead an educated bachelor who had grown sick of civilization and had returned to African jungle where he was raised.
Ely also played the title character in the 1975 action film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, but otherwise had mostly small roles in TV and films including the 1958 movie musical South Pacific.
He was host of the Miss America pageant in 1980 and 1981 and later married Valerie Ely, a former Miss Florida. The couple had three children.
Ely retired from acting to focus on his family in 2001. But he returned briefly in 2014 in the TV movie Expecting Amish.