Johnny Weissmuller.

Peter Johann Weißmüller

Born 2 Jun 1904 Timisoara, Romania

Died 20 Jan 1984 Acapulco, Mexico

Citizenship United States

Would Be 122 yr If Living

12 min read

Reading time

2,379

Words

Apr 5, 2026

Published

Film credits

Awards

TL;DR

Johnny Weissmuller, born as Peter Johann Weißmüller in 1904, won five Olympic gold medals and set over 50 world records. He transitioned to acting and became the first speaking Tarzan in 1932’s Tarzan the Ape Man, starring in a total of 12 Tarzan films. His Tarzan yell became widely recognized and was played at his funeral.

Identity & family.

KIN · 6

Names, aliases, and relatives of Johnny Weissmuller — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Peter Johann Weißmüller

Nicknames Big John

Aliases Johnny Weismuller, Johnny Weissmüller

Spouses: Maria Bauman Allene Gates Beryl Scott Lupe Velez Bobbe Arnst
Children: Johnny Weissmuller Jr.

At a glance.

STATS

Johnny Weissmuller by the numbers — life, work, and family.

79 Years lived

59 Film credits

3 Awards

5 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Johnny Weissmuller?

BIOGRAPHY

Johnny Weissmuller — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Johnny Weissmuller was born on June 2, 1904 in Freidorf, Hungary, Austria-Hungary now Timisoara, Romania. His parents, Petrus Weissmuller and Elisabeth Kersch, were Banat Swabians of ethnic German descent. The family immigrated to the United States in 1905 when Johnny was seven months old. As a sickly child, he took up swimming on a doctor’s advice and grew to be a 6-foot-3 champion athlete. He worked as a bellhop and elevator operator at the Plaza Hotel in Chicago and trained at the Illinois Athletic Club, where he developed his revolutionary high-riding front crawl.

Career

Weissmuller’s swimming career was unparalleled: he was undefeated in official competition for his entire career, winning 52 U.S. national championships and setting multiple world records. He made his amateur debut on August 6, 1921, winning his first AAU race. At the 1924 Paris Olympics and 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, he won five gold medals and one bronze in water polo. After retiring from swimming, he appeared in the 1929 film Glorifying the American Girl wearing only a fig leaf. His big break came when MGM cast him as Tarzan in Tarzan the Ape Man 1932 after Cyril Hume spotted him swimming. He went on to star in 12 Tarzan films—six for MGM from 1932 to 1942 and six for RKO from 1943 to 1948—and later made 13 Jungle Jim films for Columbia. He also made a cameo in The Phynx 1970 with Maureen O’Sullivan, where he finally said Me Tarzan, You Jane.

Personal life

Weissmuller was married five times: to Bobbe Arnst 1931-1933, Lupe Velez 1933-1939, Beryl Scott 1939-1948, Allene Gates 1948-1963, and Maria Bauman 1963 until his death. His turbulent marriage to Velez involved physical fights and was widely covered in scandal sheets. He had three children: Johnny Weissmuller Jr., Wendy Anne, and Heidi Elizabeth. Heidi died in a car crash on November 19, 1962 while pregnant, an event that deeply affected him. During the Cuban Revolution, his Tarzan yell saved him from being kidnapped by Castro’s soldiers.

Legacy

Weissmuller’s legacy as both a swimmer and an actor is immense. He was a charter member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 and inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960. His signature Tarzan yell, which he invented as a child, is widely recognized and was played at his funeral. He is remembered as the first speaking Tarzan and as one of the greatest swimmers of the 20th century.

Filmography.

FILMS · 59

The complete filmography of Johnny Weissmuller — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Merv Griffin Show

1962
TV

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948
TV

Marvel's Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

2013
TV

This Is Your Life

1952
Movie

Tarzan the Ape Man

1932
Movie

The Devil's Brigade

1968
Movie

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976
Movie

Tarzan and the Mermaids

1948
Movie

Tarzan Escapes

1936
Movie

Tarzan and the Amazons

1945
Movie

Tarzan and His Mate

1934
Movie

Tarzan and the Leopard Woman

1946
Movie

The Comic

1969
Movie

Tarzan's New York Adventure

1942

Showing 14 of 59 View all 59 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 3

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Johnny Weissmuller — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

honorary citizen of Timișoara
International Swimming Hall of Fame
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 6

A wall of memorable lines from Johnny Weissmuller — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

I Have Always Been Vitally Interested in Physical Conditioning. I Have Long Believed That Athletic Competition Among People and Nations Should Replace Violence and Wars.
I Started Out as a Scrawny Kid in Chicago, and Even That Was Lucky. It Got Me to Swimming. Then All the Good Breaks in the World Happened and Kept on Happening.
I’d Like to Move into the Douglas Fairbanks Type of Action Pictures. I’m No Great Actor, but My Fans Like Me, so Why Shouldn’t I Give It a Whirl?
I’ve Had About as Perfect a 55 Years as Any Human Could Have.
Tarzan Films Are Decent Films, Designed for Family Viewing. It’s an Idealistic, Down to Earth Story About a Man’s Love for Animals and the Care of His Family.
If Only We’d Had the Benefit of Ralph Helfer’s Affection Trained Animals in the Old Days Our Films Would Have Been a Lot Better, Safer, and a Hell of a Lot More Fun!

Did you know?

FACTS · 28

Little-known facts about Johnny Weissmuller — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

He was the first swimmer to complete the 100-meter freestyle in under one minute.
Between 1924 and 1928, Weissmuller won five Olympic gold medals in swimming, breaking records in each event. From 1921 to 1929, he won every freestyle race he entered.
In 1974, Weissmuller broke his hip and leg. While hospitalized, he discovered he had a serious heart condition despite his lifelong swimming and exercise routine.
During the Cuban Revolution, Weissmuller and his friends were surrounded by Castro’s soldiers while playing golf. Thinking fast, he let out his Tarzan yell, and the delighted soldiers recognized him and escorted them to safety, even giving him a $100 bill.
On February 8, 1960, Weissmuller received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Weissmuller’s turbulent marriage to Lupe Velez was fodder for tabloids, with makeup artists on Tarzan sets hiding bruises and scratches from their fights. According to his son, Weissmuller left after Lupe admitted to killing his dog, and he retaliated by killing her parrot, which had been trained to call him Gary.
At Weissmuller’s request, a recording of his invented Tarzan yell was played at his funeral as his coffin was lowered.
Weissmuller had one of the greatest swimming records of the 20th century, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze in water polo at the 1924 and 1928 Games. He also won 52 U.S. national championships, set over 50 world records, and remained undefeated in official competition throughout his career.
Weissmuller’s daughter Heidi died in a car crash on November 19, 1962, on the Pacific Coast Highway near Laguna Beach. She was driving her husband and a friend back to their naval base when she fell asleep. Both Heidi and her unborn child died; her husband and friend survived. According to his son, Weissmuller never recovered from the loss.
Weissmuller was born in Freidorf, now a district of Timisoara, Romania. His parents Elisabeth and Petrus were Banat Swabians. The family arrived in the U.S. on January 26, 1905 when he was seven months old.
When Weissmuller first met Cheetah in 1931, the chimp attacked him; Weissmuller struck it with his knife handle to assert dominance. After that, the chimp became docile around him and followed him like a puppy throughout their films.
Weissmuller’s Tarzan yell was based on an extended yodel he perfected as a child.
During the Jungle Jim films, Weissmuller was fined $5,000 for every pound he was overweight.
In 1973, Weissmuller moved to Las Vegas from Florida and worked as a greeter at the MGM Grand Hotel.
Weissmuller’s image appears on the cover of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album from 1967.
While appearing on the German show Das aktuelle Sportstudio in 1971, a monkey snatched Maria’s wig and threw it on the floor.
Weissmuller and his brother Pete supposedly switched identities so Johnny could compete in the U.S. Olympic trials. Johnny, born in Romania, used Pete’s birth in Pennsylvania to be eligible. He lived in fear that the Amateur Athletic Union would discover the ruse and strip his medals.
In 1970, Weissmuller attended the British Commonwealth Games in Jamaica and was presented to Queen Elizabeth II.
Weissmuller was the first actor to speak as Tarzan. He died in 1984, a month after the last silent Tarzan, James Pierce, passed away.
Weissmuller had a cameo with Maureen O’Sullivan in The Phynx 1970, the only film in which he said the famous line Me Tarzan, You Jane.
Weissmuller had three children: son Johnny Jr., and daughters Wendy Anne born 1942 and Heidi Elizabeth born 1943. Heidi died in a car crash in 1962.
After retiring from acting in the late 1950s, Weissmuller started a swimming pool company in Chicago. He moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1965 and became the Founding Chairman of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
In 2007, residents of the Serbian village Zitiste began a campaign to build a monument to Weissmuller, claiming he was born there.
After high school, Weissmuller worked at the Plaza Hotel in Chicago and trained at the Illinois Athletic Club, where he developed his high-riding front crawl. He made his amateur debut on August 6, 1921, winning his first AAU 50-yard freestyle race.
Weissmuller was inducted into the Body Building Guild Hall of Fame in 1976 and became a charter member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.
A biography of Weissmuller appears in The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume One 1998.
Weissmuller was caricatured in the 1941 cartoon Hollywood Steps Out.
Timisoara, Weissmuller’s birthplace, is known for its ethnic diversity, with significant Hungarian, German, and Serb populations.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 30

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Johnny Weissmuller.

When was Johnny Weissmuller born?

Johnny Weissmuller was born on June 2, 1904. His birth name was Peter Johann Weißmüller. He was born in Freidorf, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now Timisoara, Romania.
Where was Johnny Weissmuller born?

Johnny Weissmuller was born in Freidorf, Hungary, Austria-Hungary, which is now Timisoara, Timis County, Romania. His parents were Banat Swabians, ethnic Germans, and the family immigrated to the United States in 1905.
When did Johnny Weissmuller die?

Johnny Weissmuller died on January 20, 1984. He was 79 years old. He passed away in Acapulco, Mexico.
How old was Johnny Weissmuller when he died?

Johnny Weissmuller was 79 years old when he died on January 20, 1984. He died of pulmonary edema following a series of strokes in Acapulco, Mexico.
Where did Johnny Weissmuller die?

Johnny Weissmuller died in Acapulco, Mexico. He had moved there later in life and died of pulmonary edema on January 20, 1984.
What caused Johnny Weissmuller's death?

Johnny Weissmuller died from pulmonary edema following a series of strokes. He had been in poor health after breaking a hip in 1974 and was later diagnosed with a serious heart condition.
What was Johnny Weissmuller's real name?

Johnny Weissmuller’s real name was Peter Johann Weißmüller. He was born with that name on June 2, 1904 in Freidorf, Hungary, Austria-Hungary.
What did Johnny Weissmuller do for a living?

Johnny Weissmuller was primarily an actor and a competitive swimmer. He also worked in music crew roles. He is best known for his roles as Tarzan and Jungle Jim.
What nationality was Johnny Weissmuller?

Johnny Weissmuller was an American citizen. He was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and immigrated to the United States as an infant.
What was Johnny Weissmuller's native language?

Johnny Weissmuller’s native language was German. He was born to ethnic German parents in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Who was Johnny Weissmuller married to?

Johnny Weissmuller was married five times: to Bobbe Arnst 1931–1933, Lupe Velez 1933–1939, Beryl Scott 1939–1948, Allene Gates 1948–1963, and Maria Bauman 1963–1984. His marriage to Lupe Velez was particularly turbulent and well-publicized.
Did Johnny Weissmuller have children?

Yes, Johnny Weissmuller had three children: Johnny Weissmuller Jr., Wendy Anne Weissmuller, and Heidi Elizabeth Lisa Weissmuller. Heidi died in a car crash in 1962 while pregnant, which devastated him.
Where did Johnny Weissmuller go to school?

Johnny Weissmuller attended Lane Technical College Prep High School in Chicago. He later worked at the Plaza Hotel and trained at the Illinois Athletic Club for his swimming career.
What awards did Johnny Weissmuller win?

Johnny Weissmuller was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, and was made an honorary citizen of Timisoara, Romania, his birthplace.
How many awards did Johnny Weissmuller receive?

Johnny Weissmuller received several major honors including induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, and honorary citizenship of Timisoara. He also was a charter member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
What is Johnny Weissmuller best known for?

Johnny Weissmuller is best known for portraying Tarzan in 12 films from 1932 to 1948, starting with Tarzan the Ape Man. He also gained fame as an Olympic swimmer, winning five gold medals.
How tall was Johnny Weissmuller?

Johnny Weissmuller was 6 feet 3 inches 1.91 meters tall. His athletic build helped him succeed both as a swimmer and as Tarzan.
Why was Johnny Weissmuller called 'Big John'?

Johnny Weissmuller was nicknamed Big John due to his impressive physique and height of 6 feet 3 inches. The nickname reflected his stature as a champion athlete.
Did Johnny Weissmuller use any alternate spellings of his name?

Yes, Johnny Weissmuller’s name was sometimes spelled as Johnny Weismuller or Johnny Weissmüller. The variant Weissmüller reflects his German birth name, and alternate spellings appeared in some credits.
What roles is Johnny Weissmuller remembered for?

Johnny Weissmuller is remembered for his iconic role as Tarzan in 12 films and his career as an Olympic swimmer winning five gold medals. He also starred in the Jungle Jim series.
How many times was Johnny Weissmuller married?

Johnny Weissmuller was married five times. His spouses were Bobbe Arnst, Lupe Velez, Beryl Scott, Allene Gates, and Maria Bauman.
Who were Johnny Weissmuller's parents?

Johnny Weissmuller’s parents were Petrus Weißmüller, a miner, and Elisabeth Kersch. They were Banat Swabians, an ethnic German group from Southeast Europe. The family immigrated to the United States in 1905.
Why did Johnny Weissmuller claim to have been born in Pennsylvania?

Johnny Weissmuller claimed to have been born in Windber, Pennsylvania, likely to ensure his eligibility for the US Olympic swimming team. He was actually born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
What was Johnny Weissmuller's first Tarzan film?

Johnny Weissmuller’s first Tarzan film was Tarzan the Ape Man, released in 1932. It was a huge box-office hit that launched his acting career.
How many Tarzan films did Johnny Weissmuller star in?

Johnny Weissmuller starred in a total of 12 Tarzan films: six for MGM from 1932 to 1942, and six for RKO from 1943 to 1948.
What is the origin of Johnny Weissmuller's famous Tarzan yell?

Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan yell was an extended yodel that he perfected as a child. He invented it and it became one of the most iconic sounds in film history.
What tragedy affected Johnny Weissmuller's personal life?

Johnny Weissmuller’s daughter Heidi died in a car crash on November 19, 1962 while she was pregnant. The loss devastated him and he never fully recovered.
What did Johnny Weissmuller do after retiring from acting?

After retiring from acting, Johnny Weissmuller returned to Chicago and started a swimming pool company. He later moved to Las Vegas in 1973 where he worked as a greeter at the MGM Grand Hotel.
Did Johnny Weissmuller appear on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album cover?

Yes, Johnny Weissmuller appears on the album cover of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 1967. His image is among the many famous figures on the iconic cover.
What was Johnny Weissmuller's connection to the MGM Grand Hotel?

After moving to Las Vegas in 1973, Johnny Weissmuller worked as a greeter at the MGM Grand Hotel. He lived in Las Vegas until moving to Acapulco later in life.

View all 30 questions View fewer questions

Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on April 5, 2026

Report an issue

If something on this page looks off, we genuinely want to know about it. Send us a quick email with the celebrity's name, the detail that seems incorrect, and any sources you're referencing. We review every report and update the page as soon as we can.

Report an issue

Johnny Weissmuller.

TL;DR

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

The Merv Griffin Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

Marvel's Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

This Is Your Life

Tarzan the Ape Man

The Devil's Brigade

That's Entertainment, Part II

Tarzan and the Mermaids

Tarzan Escapes

Tarzan and the Amazons

Tarzan and His Mate

Tarzan and the Leopard Woman

The Comic

Tarzan's New York Adventure