Tarzan-Mike Henry-Pt.1

Former Pittsburgh Steeler and LA Rams linebacker Mike Henry made 3 Tarzan movies in the 60's and was slated to star in the TV series before dropping out due to multiple injuries. He almost played Batman on TV and probably would have challenged Christopher Reeve for the part of Superman if anyone had thought to test him.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Tarzan
• Mike
• Henry
• Superman
• Batman

[ysbaddaden2003]

Too bad Mike Henry never played George of the Jungle.

[Zacatown]

@ysbaddaden2003 In a strange way, Mike Henry actually DID play George of the Jungle. After leaving the role of Tarzan, he made a comedy TV pilot called "Taygar, King of the Jungle" in which he was a "dolt" and his mate wore the pants in the family. But he was sued by the Burroughs estate and the pilot was never seen.

[2008ljr]

Wasn't he Jackie Gleason's Son Junior in the Smokey and the Bandid Movies. He was suppose to marry Sally Field.

[Zacatown]

@2008ljr -- Yes, you're right. Mike Henry was hysterical as Junior opposite the Great One, Jackie Gleason. Burt Reynolds was a true fan and friend of Mr. Henry.(who also appeared in Reynolds' "The Longest Yard" as a football playing prison guard)

[1middlesbrough]

@Zacatown he was also in the green berets with john wayne

[Zacatown]

@1middlesbrough Yes, you're right. Watch my other video "Tarzan-Mike Henry-Pt.2 to see Mr. Henry's terrific fight scene from "The Green Berets."

[cjs33139]

daaaaaaaaaaaaamn. This guy was ripped and sexy for the 1960s. Yuummmy! I think he was the best Tarzan.

[htrrz]

I agree, Gordon Scott, Jock Mahoney, and the fantastic Mike Henry, out Rambo, Rambo, if anyhting Rambo was a ultra violent, non heroic version of these films.

Thanks to the one who posted this, it's great to see a non steriod film hero, and I saw Henry on I Got A Seceret when I was about nine. Henry was my reason for taking up fitness that many years ago and I stuck with it, I hope he knows he was and is a great inspiration.

[stuntconnection]

In the movie! In real life he has been happily married to my cousin Cheryl for over 30 years!

[ridgerunner721601]

I kept on waiting for Tarzan to say, "Daddy, can we move to Florida. I like all the alligators and snakes." Oh, wrong movie.

[peterack]

Mike Henry is my favorite Tarzan. He was a friend of my parents' (my dad was a tv producer and my mom an actress) and Mike came over to the house and threw the football with me. This was all after I watched him as Tarzan...it was a thrill then!

[theironclads]

Mike Henry is simply one of the greatest Tarzans' ever on film! In an interview he says that of the 3 Tarzan movies he filmed,"Tarzan & the Jungle Boy" was his favorite.

[theironclads]

@ysbaddaden2003 Mike Henry refutes this rumor in a current interview.He says that he was never in discussions with the producers of the 1966 Batman TV series at all.He never did any screen tests either for this project.

[theironclads]

@ronwelker8 Mike was offered the role of Tarzan for the 1966 TV show,but he turned it down according to an interview I'm reading with Mike in Filmfax Magazine.The producers of the 3 Tarzan movies had not treated Mike well,resulting in lawsuits which were eventually settled out of court. Also,Mike was concerned about being typecast as the Tarzan character at that time.He wanted to broaden his acting career & desired doing roles with more variety.

[lgtrekphan]

Mike was always a bit too educated for me until i actually read the Edgar Rice Burroughs story. Tarzan was VERY educated and spoke not only English but French as well. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan was more accurate to the books by Burroughs.

[backdraft4750]

I always like Mike Henry as Tarzan....You gotta love this film clip. When the helicopter lands it goes behind the bushes, hidden....Then a quick choppy edit....Then the explosion....I guess the budget on this movie was running low....Still very enjoyable.

[malackow]

Little known trivia...Mike Henry screen-tested for the TV show "Batman." Can you imagine how humiliating it would've been to get beaten out by Adam West?