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EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
CREATOR OF TARZAN - FOUNDER OF TARZANA
GORDON SCOTT 1926 - 2007
"He was an absolutely wonderful Tarzan, who played the character as an intelligent and nice man who carried himself well, much as my grandfather had written it."
Danton Burroughs* - Tarzana, California - May 2007
One of the best-loved film portrayers of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan was Gordon Scott. Born Gordon Werschkul on August 3, 1927 in Portland, Oregon, Scott played in the following Tarzan films
1955 Tarzan's Hidden Jungle
1957 Tarzan and the Lost Safari
1958 Tarzan and the Trappers
1958 Tarzan's Flight for Life
1959 Tarzan's Greatest Adventure
1960 Tarzan the Magnificent
Raised by parents who emphasized health and fitness, Gordon (the youngest of nine) entered Oregon State University to study physical education just prior to the outbreak of World War II. He left college to become a drill instructor in the US military and remained in the service until 1947. He loved physical challenges, working as a military policeman, a fireman, cowboy and finally a lifeguard at the then glamorous Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas.
It was at the Sahara that Hollywood agents Walter and Edward Myers discovered the "new Tarzan." Gordon was signed to a seven year contract by the legendary sol Lesser. He took the new last name of Scott and became the eleventh man to play Tarzan of the Apes.
* Danton Burroughs is the grandson of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the son of John Coleman Burroughs, American artist and illustrator.
1 comment:
Gordon Scott was my favorite version of Tarzan, and I remember his films very fondly.
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