Jock Mahoney(1919-1989)
- Actor
- Stunts
- Soundtrack
Mahoney is of French and Irish extraction, with some Cherokee. At the
University of Iowa, he was outstanding in swimming, basketball and
football. When World War II broke out, he enlisted as a Marine fighter
pilot and instructor. In Hollywood, he was a noted stunt man, doubling
for Errol Flynn, John Wayne, and Gregory Peck. Gene Autry signed him for the lead in
his 78-episode The Range Rider (1951) TV series. He tested to replace Johnny Weissmuller, as
Tarzan but lost out to Lex Barker. In 1960, he played the heavy in
Gordon Scott's Tarzan the Magnificent (1960), and his part there led Sy Weintraub to hire him as
Scott's replacement. In his two Tarzan movies, he did all his own
stunts. In Tarzan's Three Challenges (1963), he continued working in spite of dysentery, dengue
fever and pneumonia. By this time, Weintraub was looking for a younger
Tarzan, envisioning a future TV series. By mutual agreement, his
contract with Mahoney was dissolved. After a couple of years regaining
his strength and weight, Jock returned to making action
films.
