James Hubert Pierce (August 8, 1900 â€" December 11, 1983) was an
American actor and the fourth actor to portray Tarzan on film. He
appeared in films from 1924 to 1951.Pierce was born in Freedom,
Indiana. He was an All-American center on the Indiana Hoosiers
football team. Following his graduation in 1921, he coached high
school football in Arizona, and began acting in his spare time. After
he was cast in the 1923 production of The Deerslayer, he remained in
California and coached football at Glendale High School (one of his
players was John Wayne).Pierce's life changed when he attended a party
given by Edgar Rice Burroughs and his daughter Joan. Burroughs, the
creator and author of the Tarzan books, immediately wanted Pierce to
star in the next Tarzan movie. Pierce gave up a role in the film Wings
to accept the Tarzan role. His part in Wings was given to a newcomer
named Gary Cooper. The silent Tarzan film Burroughs talked him into
accepting was released in 1927 by RKO Radio Pictures, and entitled
Tarzan and the Golden Lion.Pierce wed Joan Burroughs on August 8,
1928, his 28th birthday. From 1932 to 1936, James and Joan Pierce were
the voices of Tarzan and Jane on national radio in Tarzan. They
remained married until Joan's death in 1972. Both are buried in
Shelbyville, Indiana, and their tombstones bear the inscriptions
Tarzan and Jane. They had a daughter Joanne II Anselmo, née Pierce
(1930â€"2005), and a son James Michael Pierce (1935â€"1984).
American actor and the fourth actor to portray Tarzan on film. He
appeared in films from 1924 to 1951.Pierce was born in Freedom,
Indiana. He was an All-American center on the Indiana Hoosiers
football team. Following his graduation in 1921, he coached high
school football in Arizona, and began acting in his spare time. After
he was cast in the 1923 production of The Deerslayer, he remained in
California and coached football at Glendale High School (one of his
players was John Wayne).Pierce's life changed when he attended a party
given by Edgar Rice Burroughs and his daughter Joan. Burroughs, the
creator and author of the Tarzan books, immediately wanted Pierce to
star in the next Tarzan movie. Pierce gave up a role in the film Wings
to accept the Tarzan role. His part in Wings was given to a newcomer
named Gary Cooper. The silent Tarzan film Burroughs talked him into
accepting was released in 1927 by RKO Radio Pictures, and entitled
Tarzan and the Golden Lion.Pierce wed Joan Burroughs on August 8,
1928, his 28th birthday. From 1932 to 1936, James and Joan Pierce were
the voices of Tarzan and Jane on national radio in Tarzan. They
remained married until Joan's death in 1972. Both are buried in
Shelbyville, Indiana, and their tombstones bear the inscriptions
Tarzan and Jane. They had a daughter Joanne II Anselmo, née Pierce
(1930â€"2005), and a son James Michael Pierce (1935â€"1984).
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