| Johnny Weissmuller Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6Â ft 3Â in |
| Weight | 86 kg |
| Date of Birth | June 2, 1904 |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Date of Death | January 20, 1984 |
Johnny Weissmuller was a Hungarian-born American Olympic swimmer, water polo player, and actor who established himself as one of the most acclaimed competitive swimmers of the 20th century.
Born Name
Johann Peter Weißmüller
Nick Names
Johnny, Big John
Age
He was born on June 2, 1904.
Died
On January 20, 1984, Johnny Weissmuller died from pulmonary edema at the age of 79 in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.
Resting Place
Valley of the Light Cemetery
Sun Sign
Gemini
Born Place
Szabadfalva, Kingdom of Hungary (later: Freidorf, Romania)
Nationality
Education
Johnny Weissmuller attended Lane Tech College Prep High School.
Occupation
Olympic Swimmer, Water Polo Player, Actor
Family
- Father – Peter Weißmüller
- Mother – Elisabeth Weißmüller (née Kersch)
- Siblings – Peter (Younger Brother)
- Others – Michael Weißmüller/Weissmüller (Paternal Grandfather), Barbara Szartorius (Paternal Grandmother), Conrad Kersch (Maternal Grandfather), Elisabeth Picher (Maternal Grandmother)
Net Worth
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, his net worth was $2 million at the time of his death.
Build
Athletic
Height
6 ft 3 in or 190.5 cm
Weight
86 kg or 189.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Johnny Weissmuller had dated –
- Mildred Shay
- Greta Garbo (1930)
- Bobbe Arnst (1931-1933)​ – He married his first wife, band and club singer Bobbe Arnst, in the year 1931. The marriage ended in divorce in 1933.
- Lupe Vélez (1933-1939)​ – He was married to Mexican actor, singer, and dancer Lupe Vélez from 1933 to 1939.
- Fay Webb (1933)
- Jean Harlow (1933)
- Tallulah Bankhead (1933)
- Beryl Scott (1939-1948)​ – In August 1939, Johnny Weissmuller married Beryl Scott and they were blessed with 3 children – Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. (September 23, 1940 – July 27, 2006), Wendy Anne Weissmuller (b. 1942), and Heidi Elizabeth Weissmuller (1944–1962). Heidi was killed in a car crash. Johnny and Beryl divorced in 1948.
- Allene Gates (1948-1962) – He was married to Allene Gates from 1948 to 1962.​
- Maria Gertrude Baumann (1963-1984) – Weissmuller married Maria Gertrude Baumann in 1963 and they remained together until his death in 1984. He had a stepdaughter named Lisa Weissmuller-Gallagher with Baumann.
Race / Ethnicity
White
Weissmuller had Banat Swabian ancestry.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Muscular pectorals
Religion
He was raised as a Catholic.
Johnny Weissmuller Facts
- His love for swimming sparked at a very young age.
- He was in 8th grade when his father abandoned the family. After that, he left school in order to support his family financially.
- Johnny Weissmuller broke the world record set by Hawaiian competition swimmer Duke Kahanamoku in the 100-meter freestyle as Johnny Weissmuller swam in 58.6 seconds on July 9, 1922.
- He was a member of the U.S. men’s national water polo team and won a bronze medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics.
- In the 100-yard freestyle, he set a new world record of 51.0 seconds in 1927 and the record stood for 17Â years.
- He was a member of the U.S. men’s national water polo team and won a bronze medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics.
- Johnny Weissmuller became the first man to swim the 100-meter freestyle in under one minute and the 440-yard freestyle in under five minutes.
- Throughout his career, he never lost a race and retired with an unbeaten amateur record.
- From 1932 to 1948, Johnny Weissmuller brought to life the character of Tarzan in twelve feature films – Tarzan the Ape Man, Tarzan and His Mate, Tarzan Escapes, Tarzan Finds a Son!, Tarzan’s Secret Treasure, Tarzan’s New York Adventure, Tarzan Triumphs, Tarzan’s Desert Mystery, Tarzan and the Amazons, Tarzan and the Leopard Woman, Tarzan and the Huntress, and Tarzan and the Mermaids.
- The Associated Press named him as the greatest swimmer of the first half of the 20th century in 1950.
- In 1965, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
- For his distinguished contribution to the art of film, Johnny Weissmuller was honored with the George Eastman Award in 1973.
- He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the motion picture industry.
Featured Image by MGM Studio / eBay / Public Domain
