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The Gordon Scott Page

NEWS FLASH!

Gordon Scott departed this life on April 30, 2007.

Thank you, Gordon, on behalf of the millions whom you entertained and inspired. We will miss you.

Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the candle because the dawn has come.
August 3, 1927-April 30, 2007

ORDON SCOTT swung two ways ... but only cinematically speaking, that is! This hunky jack of all trades made his mark in the fifties as one of the most popular actors to play Tarzan. Elmo Lincoln was the first Tarzan, and Johnny Weissmuller the best-remembered, but Gordon Scott was hands down the sexiest! Then, in the early sixties, he switched loincloths and rejuvinated his career by starring in a series of Italian "sword and sandal" epics.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Gordon M. Werschkul first majored in physical education at the University of Oregon, but dropped out after one semester. He joined the Army became an infantry drill instructor, then a military policeman. After his honorable discharge in 1947 he went on to be a fireman, cowboy, and farm machinery salesman. His discovery is pure Hollywood legend. In 1953, he was working as a lifeguard at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas when he was spotted by a pair of Hollywood agents, who were impressed by his muscular physique and 19" biceps. They introduced Mr. Werschkul to Sol Lesser who had already conducted 200 tests in search of a new Tarzan to replace the departing Lex Barker. The producer cast him in "Tarzan's Hidden Jungle" (1955), gave him a seven-year contract and a new last name. It also led to romance as Scott married his co-star, Vera Miles.

The first three Tarzans pictures, made by Lesser and released through RKO and M-G-M, were mediocre, but the last two, for producer Sy Weintraub through Paramount, displayed a more articulate and intelligent Tarzan and are considered among the best of this series. In 1960, Gordon turned down an offer to do further Tarzan pics and went to Italy to star in a series of sword and sandal spectaculars and spaghetti westerns. A highlight was his reunion with his old training buddy Steve Reeves, who suggested that Scott be cast as Remus to Reeves's Romulus in Romolo e Remo (aka Duel of the Titans).

The versatility that Gordon showed in his career prior to the movies was echoed in his film roles. In contrast to the more buff Reeves, who appeared almost exclusively in costume epics, the 6' 3" Scott managed a surprising variety of parts, ranging from various classical heroes, to James Bondish adventurers, to spaghetti western cowboys in addition to Tarzan. His early military combat and martial arts training made it possible for him to do many of his own stunts, as well.

Today, Gordon is semi-retired, appearing occasionally in films. Although it has been some thirty years since he hung up his loincloth, Gordon Scott is still well-remembered by loyal fans.

Gordon Scott Links

 = The liBEARian's picks of sites worth their bandwidth in solid gold

Gordon Scott Bibliography

Black, Michael A. "The Long Journey of Hercules." Baby Boomer Collectibles, October 1996.

Eames, John Douglas. The MGM Story: The Complete History of Fifty Roaring Years. New York: Crown, 1975.
Information on Gordon's films Tarzan and the Lost Safari and Tarzan's Fight for Life. Films produced or released by the studio are grouped by year of release. See 1957 and 1958.

__________. The Paramount Story. New York: Crown, 1985.
Information on Gordon's films Tarzan's Greatest Adventure and Tarzan the Magnificent. Films produced or released by the studio are grouped by year of release. See 1959 and 1960.

Essoe, Gabe. Tarzan of the Movies: A Pictorial History of More Than Fifty Years of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Legendary Hero. Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel Press, 1968.

Flacassier, Stephen. "Gordon Scott Speaks!" Cult Movies 14, 1995.

__________. "Immense and Immortal." Cult Movies 23, 1997.

__________. Muscles, Myths, and Movies: "An Acquired Taste on Video" Guide to the Cinematic Adventures of Hercules. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: Rabbit's Garage, 1994.
Comprehensive and highly enjoyable resource with detailed plots and evaluations of most of Gordon's "sword and sandal" epics.

Fury, David. Kings of the Jungle: An Illustrated Reference to Tarzan on Screen and Television. Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., 1994

Jewell, Richard B., with Vernon Harbin. The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House, 1982.
Information on Gordon's film Tarzan's Hidden Jungle. Films produced or released by the studio are grouped by year of release. See 1955.

Merritt, Greg. The Guide to Muscle Films and Television. Los Angeles, Calif.: Merritt Enterprises, 1996.
Brief synopses of movies starring bodybuilders and musclemen.

Saltarelli, Mario. "Hercules and Beyond." Cult Movies 20, 1997.

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