I have thought a lot about Denny Miller since I heard the news of his passing. We worked together twice that I can remember: once on a pilot for a series called, “The Seal,” and once on the series, “Sea Hunt.” On each, Denny played the heavy or bad guy while I was the protagonist. It could easily have been reversed without altering the chemistry of the play. Oddly, I do not remember ever discussing the character of Tarzan with Denny, which is the most common bond we shared. It was not until years later that there was a nodding acceptance to the fact that we had both portrayed that iconic fictional hero. Denny’s career was long and ran the gamut from modern day sit-com or drama to classic western (Wagon Train), but Denny seemed very connected to Tarzan, and I believe that he was proud to have that on his resume. I know that many fans of Tarzan loved Denny, and I also know that when they met him they were not disappointed in the man. He was what he appeared to be: strong, affable, and very genuine. I miss knowing that he will not be part of any future Tarzan event that the dwindling number of ex-Tarzan portrayers might attend. The last time I saw Denny was at just such an evening celebrating Edgar Rice Burroughs’ works. He still looked like he could step right into the costume and pick up where he left off. We talked a little about the times we had worked together, and we talked a little about our families, and we talked a little about the changes in the business, but we still did not talk about our tenures as Tarzan. I cannot help but wonder how that conversation might have gone. Rest in Peace, Denny. You’ll be missed.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 23:38:01 +0000
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