Richard Ely (actor)
Richard Ely | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Kent Ely Weber 4 May 1945 |
| Died | 9 December 2019 (aged 74) |
| Other names | Richard K. Weber Rick Ely |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1969–1990 |
| Spouse(s) |
Rayma Kristine Mattson
(m. 1963; div. 1966)Jeanette Susan
(m. 1987; div. 1990) |
| Children | 1 |
Richard Ely (born Richard Kent Ely Weber; May 4, 1945 – December 9, 2019), also known as Rick Ely and Richard K. Weber, was an American actor and singer known for his roles in the television series The Young Rebels, and the soap operas Love of Life and One Life to Live.[1] He became a teen idol in the 1970s.[2]
Early life
Richard Kent Ely Weber was born on May 4, 1945, in Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S..
Career
Ely began his acting career using his birth name, but later registered with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) under his mother's maiden name, Ely, to avoid confusion with another actor named Ron Ely.[1] He also used the name Richard K. Weber for some of his later soap opera roles.[1]
His breakout role came in 1970 when he starred as the lead character, Jeremy Larkin, in the short-lived ABC series The Young Rebels, appearing in all 15 episodes.[1] During this time, Ely gained popularity as a teen idol and was featured in numerous teen magazines such as Tiger Beat, 16 Magazine, and Flip Teen Magazine.[3] He also released a self-titled album, Rick Ely, which included the songs "Morning Girl" and "The Circle Game".[4]
Following The Young Rebels, Ely made guest appearances on various television shows, including M*A*S*H in 1974 and co-starred in the 1973 film I Escaped from Devil's Island.[5]
In the mid-1970s, Ely moved to New York City for a role on the soap opera Love of Life and later joined the cast of One Life to Live.[6] He returned to California in 1982 and appeared in three films, Somewhere Tomorrow (1983), Space Rage (1985) and David (1988).[7] He subsequently worked in voice-overs and as a paralegal for an entertainment organization.[8]
Personal life
Ely married and divorced twice. He married Rayma Kristine Mattson on August 17, 1963, and divorced in 1966. Later he married Jeanette Susan "Jenny" Bell on April 25, 1987, but they divorced in 1990. He had one daughter.[1]
Illness and death
He died on December 9, 2019, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 74, after a long illness.[2]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | My Friend Tony | Fraternity Boy | Episode: The Hazing[9] |
| 1970 | The Young Rebels | Jeremy Larkin | as Rick Ely[10] |
| The Dating Game | Himself | Episode: The Young Rebels | |
| American Bandstand | Himself | as Rick Ely | |
| 1971 | The Doris Day Show | Clifford Fairburn Jr. | Episode: Colonel Fairburn Jr.[11] |
| Marcus Welby, M.D. | Terry Kalscheur | Episode: Men Who Care | |
| 1973 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Bo | Episode: The Second Victim |
| The Streets of San Francisco | Terry Stillwell / Carpenter | Episode: Shattered Image | |
| 1974 | M*A*S*H | Pvt. George Weston | Episode: George[12] |
| Gunsmoke | Bill Higgins | Episode: The Colonel | |
| 1976 | Love of Life | Dr. Tom Crawford | as Richard K. Weber |
| 1981 | One Life to Live | Steve Piermont | 7 episodes |
| 1982 | Texas | Peter Cowan | 3 episodes |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | The Whole World Is Watching | Gil Bennett | [13] |
| 1973 | I Escaped from Devil's Island | Joe | [14] |
| 1974 | Forgotten Island of Santosha | Narrator | as Rick Ely |
| 1983 | Somewhere Tomorrow | Alec Peiski | [15] |
| 1985 | Space Rage | Colonel | [16] |
| 1988 | David | Surgeon |
Discography
- Rick Ely (1970, RCA Victor)
References
- ^ a b c d e "Rick Ely". Philadelphia Daily News. January 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "15 '70s Teen Idols You Totally Forgot About". Best Life Magazine. November 2, 2025.
- ^ Rick Ely's Life in Pix!. Tiger Beat Magazine. p. 40.
- ^ Billboard - Nov 28, 1970. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 53.
- ^ The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film. St. Martin's Press. p. 282.
- ^ Television Detective Shows of the 1970s: Credits, Storylines, and Episode Guides for 109 Series. McFarland. p. 463.
- ^ An Actor Guide to the Talkies, 1965 Through 1974. University of Michigan. p. 220.
- ^ Musical Opinion Supplement - Issues 41-50. University of Michigan. p. 15.
- ^ The Great Television Series. A. S. Barnes. p. 126.
- ^ Harry and Wally's Favorite TV Shows. Prentice Hall Press. p. 561.
- ^ Doris Day: Sentimental Journey. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 287.
- ^ Watching M*a*S*H, Watching America: A Social History of the 1972-1983 Television Series. McFarland, Incorporated Publishers. p. 175.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, 1948-2008. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 47.
- ^ Leonard Maltin's 2014 Movie Guide. Leonard Maltin. p. 1100.
- ^ Hauntings and Poltergeists: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 112.
- ^ Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits Supplement Through 1987. McFarland. p. 585.
External links
- Richard Ely at IMDb