Quotes

[on playing Tarzan in 12 films between 1932-1948] How can a guy climb trees, say "Me, Tarzan, you, Jane", and make a million? The public forgives my acting because they know I was an athlete. They know I wasn't make-believe.

I have always been vitally interested in physical conditioning. I have long believed that athletic competition among people and nations should replace violence and wars.

I started out as a scrawny kid in Chicago, and even that was lucky. It got me to swimming. Then all the good breaks in the world happened-and kept on happening.

I'd like to move into the Douglas Fairbanks type of action pictures. I'm no great actor, but my fans like me, so why shouldn't I give it a whirl?

I've had about as perfect a 55 years as any human could have.

Tarzan films are decent films, designed for family viewing. It's an idealistic, down-to-earth story about a man's love for animals and the care of his family.

[on playing Tarzan] It was like stealing. There was swimming and I didn't have to say much. How can a guy climb trees, say "Me Tarzan, you Jane" and make a million?

If only we'd had the benefit of Ralph Helfer's affection-trained animals in the old days our films would have been a lot better, safer, and a hell of a lot more fun!

[on always being passed over for an Academy Award] Me sit in tree seventeen years. Me watch 'em come and go.