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Johnny Weissmuller
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Johnny Weissmuller is best known for his role as the original Tarzan. He put his Olympic swimmer physique to good use in the African themed movies of his day including a dozen Tarzan films and the later Jungle Jim series that ran for another 16 films.
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Like his onscreen character, Weissmuller had his heroic side. During his honorary stint as a member of the Santa Monica Lifeguard Squad, he saved a 12-year old boy from drowning off the Municipal Pier. He ... raised millions of dollars for the war effort and taught navy recruits how to swim out from under water covered with flaming petroleum, earning him a special citation by the US War Finance Program. And to his credit, he always steadfastly refused to do lucrative tobacco or alcohol ads fearing the screen image he portrayed to America's youth would be irreparably damaged.
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In 1929, Weissmuller signed a contract with BVD to be a model and representative. He traveled throughout the country doing swim shows, handing out leaflets promoting that brand of swimwear, giving his autograph and going on talk shows. In that same year, he made his first motion picture appearance as an Adonis wearing only a figleaf in a movie titled Glorifying the American Girl and he appeared as himself in the first of several Crystal Champions, a movie short featuring Weissmuller and other Olympic champions at Silver Springs, Florida.
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The source revealed: "Johnny is still close to Kate and they've remained friends. Since she had her daughter Lila Grace he's been increasingly concerned for her and wants to make sure she is in good hands."
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Johnny Weissmuller