Biography

Who was the first screen Tarzan? The standard answer is Elmo Lincoln star of the first Tarzan movie (1918). But the first third of that movie shows Tarzan as a boy, frolicking in the nude with real chimps (unlike the grown-up Lincoln who cavorted clothed with athletes wearing monkey suits). The earliest movie Tarzan was actually Gordon Griffith, a child star who began his career four years earlier in five Charles Chaplin one-reelers. After the initial Tarzan role he played the son of Tarzan (anticipating John Sheffield's "boy" roles), Tom Sawyer, and a few more child parts. As an adult he joined Monogram as an assistant director and was affiliated with both Robert Sherwood Productions and Gregory Ratoff Productions as a director and associate producer. In 1941 he became production manager of Columbia Pictures. He also served as associate producer on RKO's "Never Wave at a Wac" and UA's "Monsoon". He was survived by his sister.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>

His appearance in Tarzan of the Apes (1918) made him the first Tarzan of the movies.

Played Tarzan as a child in Tarzan of the Apes (1918) and Tarzan's son in The Son of Tarzan (1920).

Son of Katherine Griffith and Harry Griffith. Brother of actor Graham Griffith.