Johnny Weissmuller

(Click to Zoom In and Out)

The consensus is that Sherlock Holmes is the most recognized character in English literature. That may be true but another character that everyone instantly knows from the good olden days - if not quite as olden - is John Clayton, Lord Greystoke. Or as the world knows him, Tarzan of the Apes.

Although many actors have played the character perhaps incorrectly labeled as the "Ape Man" (Tarzan was, after all, a perfectly normal English Homo sapiens), to many there is only one Tarzan for the screen, big or little. And that's Johnny Weissmuller.

As to how Johnny got the part, many assume that the Hollywood bigwigs wanted someone of excellent physique, strong conditioning, and who was an excellent swimmer. So who else would you pick except the champion who in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics garnered a sum of five gold medals? That was, of course, Johnny.

But according to Johnny himself, that's not the way it happened at all. Instead his becoming one of the most popular actors of the 20th century was almost a fluke. So for a bit about the fluke - and a bit about Mr. Jonas Weißmüller, click here.