Johnny Weissmuller was the actor who stood out the most in terms of the interpretation of this character and, in 1961, he set foot on Peruvian soil. An interview on television was the reason for a short visit to Peru, alongside the prominent Peruvian athlete, Walter "The Wizard" Ledgard.
It was June 2, 1904, and Romania saw the birth of one of the most epic people in cinema worldwide. It was about Johnny Weissmuller, who years later would become the best "Tarzan" of all time.
When the actor was a child, the Weissmuller spouses made the decision to move to Windber in 1907. This was a town located in Pennsylvania (United States) and the settlement of the family from Europe had, among its many purposes, the work of their father, who started working as a miner. At that time, Jhony still kept his original name, which was Peter Janos Weissmuller,
Health was a fundamental theme in Janos's life, and that was the light that guided him toward the sport that would make him one of the most recognized swimmers in the world. Swimming was his claim to fame.
JHONNY WEISSMULLER, SWIMMING AND CINEMA
At the age of 16, he began his life in swimming at the Illinois Athletic Club. All the practice that he had accumulated over a few years was reflected in the five Olympic gold medals and one bronze that he won. Likewise, he managed to register 67 world records.
Seeing the face of this athlete in the advertisements of those years was common, clothing and sports brands fought to close contracts with him and this was one more screen for who would later become the most famous "Tarzan" of all time.
The first offer that he received to work on stage and that had some recognition was “His Majesty of Him La Girl” in 1929. He also appeared in various shorts where he showed his athletic skills as a swimmer.
Until Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios arrived to offer him the character of "Tarzan of the Monkeys" in 1932. It was the beginning of an era that would mark the lives of all people, the cinema, and of course, that of Weissmuller.
This figure, without a doubt, was something new for the retina of the society of that time. Before, it was almost non-existent to see a tall, corpulent, sensitive character on movie screens, with a big heart and love for nature and animals. His outfit did not go unnoticed because he only wore a small lower garment that covered his private parts and his derriere.
The character caught on, not only because of his physique and way of dressing but also because of the unprecedented cry that catapulted him to stardom, known to this day as the cry of Tarzan.
People were asking for more about this new character and that's what happened. 12 films were made about "Tarzan" and these were:
• 1932 - Tarzan of the Monkeys.
• 1934-Tarzan and his companion.
• 1936 - Tarzan's escape.
• 1939-Tarzan and his son.
• 1941 - Tarzan's treasure.
• 1942 - Tarzan in New York.
• 1943 - The triumph of Tarzan.
• 1943 - Tarzan the reckless.
• 1945 - Tarzan and the intrepid Amazons.
• 1946 - Tarzan and the Leopard Woman.
• 1947 - Tarzan and the huntress.
• 1948 - Tarzan and the Mermaid.
The twelve films that he recorded are practically a complete series of the life of the fictional character, created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and author of the most emblematic scream in Hollywood.
However, upon leaving the role of Tarzan, he continued with another character, Jim de la Selva. And with that, he also managed to succeed. He recorded around 13 movies.
THE LAST DAYS OF “TARZAN”
Almost at the end of the 50s, his retirement was official. He sought to continue increasing his wealth in business, but his success did not turn out as he expected.
In 1965 and with five consummated marriages, he is named Founding President of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
His life continued off the screens until in 1976 he recorded for the last time a movie called "Won Ton Ton, the dog that saved Hollywood."
His health was no longer the same, so in 1979, he went to live in Acapulco, Mexico, where he would spend the last days of his life. Respiratory ailments and chronic brain deterioration afflicted him.
His last wife, Maria Brock Mandell, whom he had married in 1963, accompanied him throughout this last phase of his life.
Finally, the devastating news arrived. Pulmonary edema, he had taken the last breath of life from Johnny Weissmuller. The most famous and beloved "Tarzan" died on January 20, 1984, at the age of 79. His body lies in the vicinity of the Valle de la Luz cemetery in Acapulco.
Various stories were created about his death, including that he had lost his mind and that he did not even recognize himself. Others said that he believed he was a monkey, but all this was denied by his son.
In addition, in an interview conducted by the German Way portal with the son of the famous swimmer, Johnny Weissmuller Jr., it was learned that the relationship between the last wife and the children of his third marriage with Beryl Scott was not entirely good and that, even, the burial in Acapulco was not part of the wishes of the children.
“He was a wonderful human being, but flawed by the absence of a father figure. He was loyal to a fault, trusting many he shouldn't have trusted. He is fun-loving and irrepressible in his hope that things will work out. An unbeatable athlete. (I also discovered) his citizenship, his turbulent life with Maria (last wife), his financial irresponsibility and never talking about his children, ”he read in the interview.
