Johnny Weissmuller Jr.

János "Johnny" Weissmüller Jr. (September 23, 1940 – July 27, 2006) was an American actor and longshoreman. He also authored a book about his father, the five-time Olympic Games gold medalist Johnny Weissmuller, who achieved additional fame playing the title role in the Tarzan movies of the 1930s and 1940s.

Biography

Weissmuller was born in San Francisco, where his father was performing at the Golden Gate International Exposition in a water ballet show called Billy Rose's Aquacade. His mother was Beryl Scott, the third of his father's five wives. The younger Weissmuller graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he was on the swim team. He joined the United States Navy, using his swimming acumen to specialize in underwater demolition.

In 1958, Weissmuller Jr. got his first screen role in the Mickey Rooney film Andy Hardy Comes Home. In 1961, he appeared in the episode "The Four" with Jack Elam in the western series, Lawman, starring John Russell. He also worked as a stuntman before moving to San Francisco where he worked as a longshoreman.[1] His subsequent credits include parts in THX 1138 (1971)[1] and the 1973 hit American Graffiti (as Bad Ass #1). He also provided the voice of the Tarzan character in the English language version of the X-rated cartoon Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle (1975). Weissmuller Jr. also appeared as a guest star in two episodes of The Streets of San Francisco. His last movie role was as a bounty hunter in the 1988 release Wildfire.

He also appeared in Bay Area stage productions. His longest-running stage role was as Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the Little Fox Theater in San Francisco. Weissmuller Jr. also belonged to yacht clubs in San Francisco, Hawaii and Acapulco, taking part in several Transpac yacht races from California to Hawaii.

Weissmuller Jr.'s memoir, Tarzan, My Father, was published in 2002 by ECW Press in Toronto, Ontario. In 2005, he retired from the docks to begin writing a book about work as a longshoreman. He died from liver cancer on July 27, 2006, aged 65. He was married to Diane Weissmuller and had a daughter Heidi Medsker and a son.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1958Andy Hardy Comes HomeJimmy 'Jim'
1971THX 1138Chrome Robot
1973American GraffitiBadass #1
1975Magnum ForcePalancio's HitterUncredited
1975Tarzoon: Shame of the JungleTarzoon
1984Massive RetaliationVirgil Griffin
1985Ewoks: The Battle for EndorMarauder Card Player #2
1988WildfireBounty Hunter
2006GI JesúsPassenger - Plane(final film role)

References
  1. "Me Robot, You Jane". Variety. October 15, 1969. p. 2.
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