The Tragic Death Of Tarzan's Joe Lara
Actor Joe Lara and his wife, Gwen Shamblin Lara, died in a plane crash on May 29, TMZ reported. The actor and diet guru were two of seven victims in the crash. The couple is survived by Gwen's two adult children from her first marriage, along with their grandchildren, per Deadline.
The 58-year-old Lara was best known for his role as Tarzan in the TV show "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures." He starred in 22 episodes of the show from 1996 to 2000, per IMDb. Before the TV series, Lara starred in the 1989 TV movie "Tarzan in Manhattan," cementing him as the perfect choice to play the character. More recently, Lara appeared in 2018's "Summer of '67."
Per TMZ, the private jet carrying the Laras and other passengers was headed from Tennessee to Florida but crashed into a lake. The other passengers were members of the Laras' church, and the cause of the crash is being investigated.
Joe Lara chased a career in country music post-'Tarzan'
To fans of "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures," Joe Lara will always be remembered as Tarzan. But per NME, Lara abandoned acting in favor of singing. (Post-2002, "Summer of '67" is Lara's only IMDb credit.)
Lara released his country album, "Joe Lara: The Cry of Freedom," in 2009, per Variety. One of Lara's country music videos is still available on his website, which also notes that Lara was a licensed pilot and a licensed falconer. In addition to his acting and his music, Lara also had a YouTube channel with his wife, "Life with Gwen and Joe," where the couple shared videos about their life together and their Christian faith.
"So sad to hear about the passing of Joe Lara, love his movies. Always will be one of my fave actors. Rest in peace," one fan tweeted. Clearly, the actor and singer's legacy will live on.