Johnny Weissmuller, Jr.

Who was Johnny Weissmuller, Jr.?

Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. was an American actor and longshoreman. He also authored a book about his father, the five-time Olympic Games gold medalist Johnny Weissmuller, who achieved additional fame playing the title role in the Tarzan movies of the 1930s and 1940s.

Weissmuller's mother was Beryl Scott, the third of his father's five wives. He was born in San Francisco, where his father was performing at the Golden Gate International Exposition in a water ballet show called Billy Rose's Aquacade. The younger Weissmuller graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he was on the swim team. He joined the United States Navy, using his swimming acumen to specialize in underwater demolition.

In 1958, Weissmuller Jr. got his first screen role in the Mickey Rooney film Andy Hardy Comes Home. His subsequent credits include parts in THX 1138 and American Graffiti. His last movie role was as a bounty hunter in the 1988 release Wildfire. Weissmuller Jr. also appeared as a guest star in two episodes of The Streets of San Francisco. In 1961, he appeared in the episode "The Four" with Jack Elam in the western series, Lawman, starring John Russell.