Most Famous Tarzan Actors in Film History
Johnny Weissmuller remains the most recognized Tarzan actor, starring in six MGM Tarzan films between 1932 and 1948, including Tarzan the Ape Man and Tarzan Finds a Son! Forbes notes his enduring cultural footprint. Elmo Lincoln originated the screen Tarzan in 1918's Tarzan of the Apes, while Gordon Scott, Lex Barker, and Denny Miller each headlined multiple entries in the classic MGM and Warner Bros series per IMDb filmography data.
Modern Tarzan Portrayals
Alexander Skarsgård starred in the 2016 film The Legend of Tarzan, directed by David Yates and produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures, with a worldwide gross of approximately $356 million according to Box Office Mojo. Casper Van Dien played Tarzan in the 1998 direct-to-video Tarzan and Jane, while Kellan Lutz portrayed the character in the 2013 film Tarzan, the Legend of a King, produced by Constantin Film Forbes reviewed the film's box office performance.
Tarzan Actor Box Office and Streaming Rankings
The Legend of Tarzan (2016) ranks as the highest-grossing live-action Tarzan film in the modern era, earning $356 million worldwide against a $180 million budget, placing it among mid-tier Hollywood adventure releases per Box Office Mojo. The 1984 film Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, starring Christopher Lambert, grossed $42 million in the U.S. and received two Academy Award nominations per IMDb.
Streaming and Television Adaptations
Netflix's Tarzan (2024) animated series and Disney's animated Tarzan (1999) remain the most searched Tarzan titles on streaming platforms Forbes reported on streaming demand trends. The Legend of Tarzan television series (2003) aired on The WB and starred Travis Fimmel, running for one season with 35 episodes produced by Warner Bros. Television per IMDb episode data.
Tarzan Actor Contracts, Earnings, and Industry Data
Johnny Weissmuller earned a reported $5,000 per week during his MGM Tarzan tenure, equivalent to roughly $90,000 in 2024 dollars adjusted by CPI Forbes cited historical salary data. Modern Tar