Richard Ely (actor)
Richard Ely, also known as Rick Ely and Richard K. Weber, was an American actor and singer known for his roles in the television series The Young Rebels, and the soap operas Love of Life and One Life to Live. He became a teen idol in the 1970s.
Early life
Richard Kent Ely Weber was born on May 4, 1945, in Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S..Career
Ely began his acting career using his birth name, but later registered with the Screen Actors Guild under his mother's maiden name, Ely, to avoid confusion with another actor named Ron Ely. He also used the name Richard K. Weber for some of his later soap opera roles.His breakout role came in 1970 when he starred as the lead character, Jeremy Larkin, in the short-lived ABC series The Young Rebels, appearing in all 15 episodes. During this time, Ely gained popularity as a teen idol and was featured in numerous teen magazines such as Tiger Beat, 16 Magazine, and Flip Teen Magazine. He also released a self-titled album, Rick Ely, which included the songs "Morning Girl" and "The Circle Game".
Following The Young Rebels, Ely made guest appearances on various television shows, including M*A*S*H in 1974 and co-starred in the 1973 film I Escaped from Devil's Island.
In the mid-1970s, Ely moved to New York City for a role on the soap opera Love of Life and later joined the cast of One Life to Live. He returned to California in 1982 and appeared in three films, Somewhere Tomorrow, Space Rage and David. He subsequently worked in voice-overs and as a paralegal for an entertainment organization.
Personal life
Ely married and divorced twice. He married Rayma Kristine Mattson on August 17, 1963, and divorced in 1966. Later he married Jeanette Susan "Jenny" Bell on April 25, 1987, but they divorced in 1990. He had one daughter.Illness and death
He died on December 9, 2019, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 74, after a long illness.Discography
- ''Rick Ely''