Actor Who Played Tarzan's Strong Boy Dies at 79

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Oct 20th 2010 06:26AM

Johnny Sheffield, who played the character Boy in the Tarzan movies of the 1930s and '40s, has died at age 79. His wife, Patty Sheffield, told the Los Angeles Times that he died Friday of a heart attack at his home in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista. She says he fell off a ladder while pruning a palm tree four hours earlier.

Sheffield beat out more than 300 other youngsters for the role of Boy in the 1939 movie 'Tarzan Finds a Son!' and went on to co-star with Johnny Weissmuller in seven more Tarzan films.

(Photo: Sheffield, center, with Johnny and Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. in 1945.)

Sheffield spoke to the AP shortly after Weissmuller's death in 1984, saying that the actor was always "kind and tender toward me and that "he was like a father to me."

He later played another jungle boy, Bomba, in a dozen movies but quit the business after the last one 1955.

Johnny Sheffield went on to earn a business degree and worked for various companies and in contracting and real estate. Despite being out of the business for decades, he continued to get fan mail.

"The mail always says, 'Hey, we want to thank you a lot for some good times at the movie show,' " he said in a 1997 LA Times interview. "They watched the movies, went home and put up a rope and started swinging."

Sheffield is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Tags: Johnny Sheffield, Tarzan

Comments

(38)

Wednesday 20 October

By Wilma Lanier

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Just wanted to be counted with the others that I well remember seeing the Tarzan movies. I remember how high that cliff was which separated them from us ordinary people down below. Even in this day, a popular saying between married couples is, "Me Tarzan, you Jane." It was good, clean watching. I am so glad we have channels which play the "older" films. I enjoy them more than the loud, violent, sex-filled films. Now, they believe you have no imagination so they show you step in living color. When Rhett took Scarlett up those big stairs and the next thing we saw was her stretching in the morning with a big smile on her face. No need to show what happened. Farewell, Boy. Thanks for the memories.

By RobertnAK

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Like someone said earlier, what boy in America didn't want to be Boy in the 40's and 50's! Johnny was a decent enough actor but his role as boy was what brought him the fame. Does anyone remember watching his Jungle boy movies and noticing the outline of a watch around his wrist from his tan? Bless you John, you were a true icon to Many-Many of us Boys brouhgt up in that era. Thank you for the entertainment sir.

By James

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If you read the Tarzan books, which were set in the early part of the 20th century, you would have a better understanding of what has transpired in the 20th and early part of the 21st centuries. The damn Arabs were always untrustworthy weasels and the Germans the bad guys. Without specifically alluding to Christianity, the Tarzan books did much to illustrate the fallen nature of man and the nobility of the Creation. Today's youth get a very distorted view of life and what is right and wrong. Get them a set of the original Tarzan books and/or movies and let them learn some good things.

By CS

I loved those movies. RIP Boy.
Why don't they put those movies on DVD?

By Cay D.

I grew up watching Tarzan and Johnny Sheffield. They were on in the mornings on the weekends. Those were the days when we only had about 5 channels. They were entertaining without being depressing. thanks for those memories.

By kahlcasso

Wow...this is the most positive response I think I've ever seen on AOL. My parents grew up going to movies such as Tarzan, I got to see them later when cable TV was a brand new thing. Loved those movies! RIP Boy. Thanks for the memories...

By elliott j. schertzer

Yes they go in 3's, Barbara Billingsly, Tom Bosley, Johnny Sheffield, R.I.P. and thanks for the memories

By joel

He was called BOY they never gave him a real name. Growing up I never missed the TARZAN movies on a SATURDAY afternoon with BOY TARZAN AND JANE (MAUREEN OHARA).
RIP BOY.

By Rick

I believe you are confusing Mauren O'Hara with Maureen O'Sullivan who played Jane in the Tarzan movies. She was also
the mother of Mia Farrow. Maureen O'hara starred in How Green was My Valley and Miracle on 34th Street and The Quiet Man with John Wayne.

By BH

My siblings and I watched every single Tarzan movie. The Crocodile scenes were so frightening, that to this day, the Crocodile is the ONLY animal I am afraid of. In those days, I wanted to be Johnny Sheffield and I was a little girl. We will miss you Johnny.

By steverc53

I am so glad we got to enjoy all of these fine actors of our youth.
My prayers and condolences go out to the Sheffield family. R.I.P. Johnny

By seasaw

how ironic is that....fell from a tree

By bgs

RIP Boy. What some GREAT memories. I loved watching Tarzan on Saturdays. It was some great entertainment instead of all the reality crap they have on now. Too bad we don't have clean wholesome entertainment anymore. I would much rather watch a VERY OLD Tarzan show than to watch these young kids drinking and jumping into bed with someone different every show. Bring back the 50's and 60's! THOSE were the good ole' days. People didn't have to worry about locking doors, kids could walk to school without fear of being kidnapped or worse, kids PLAYED outside in their neighborhoods late. Adults were Mr. & Mrs. and not first name basis--now no respect. ALL shows were G rated. Yes, those were some great times. I miss them and I am sorry my kids never knew those times.

By Evil Jack

Belive it or not about 2 years ago I heard that Cheeta the chimp was still alive and may still be living in a facility somewhere.

By msharvie

No one could ever match the "yell" that Weissmuller did! I loved all the Weissmuller Tarzan movies, and his Tarzan family.
Boy has gone home to join his long ago family.

By rob

wow first mom on leave it to beaver than dad on happy days now son or boy on tarzan. unbelievable mom dad and son all the greats will be missed!

By sherryrabee

Tarzan's Boy ! You will be loved for eternity and may God bless and keep you in His arms. Heaven is your home now, Tom Bosley "Mr.Cunningham" what an actor and gave us all the old days back

Wednesday 29 December

By David Furey

R.I.P.Boy, you gave me so many fond memories and still do every xmas I watch The TARZAN movies religiously.I took my family to florida to visit Silver Springs where the underwater scenes were shot.
These movies are pure escapism, and still magical today.Im so sorry for your loss Mrs Sheffield and Family, may god be with you in these sad days, and may god watch over you Boy.

Mr Furey (Coventry, England)

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