Johnny Sheffield was an American actor best known for his roles as Boy, the adopted son of Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan, in eight Tarzan movies, and as Bomba the Jungle Boy in twelve low-budget Monogram films.
Personal and Family Life
Johnny Sheffield was born on April 11, 1931, in Pasadena, California. He was the son of actor Reginald Sheffield and Louise Sheffield Cassan. He married Patricia in 1959, and they had three children together: Stewart, Regina, and Patrick Sheffield. Johnny also had siblings, including his brother Billy and sister Mary Alice, and several relatives in the entertainment industry.
Career Highlights
Sheffield’s career began when he was just seven years old, appearing on Broadway in “On Borrowed Time.” He became famous for playing “Boy” in the Tarzan films alongside Johnny Weissmuller from 1939 to 1947. After outgrowing the role, he transitioned to the character Bomba the Jungle Boy, starring in twelve films from 1949 to 1955.
Death and Legacy
Johnny Sheffield passed away on October 15, 2010, in Chula Vista, California, due to a heart attack that followed a fall from a ladder while pruning a palm tree. He is remembered for his unique contributions to the adventure film genre and for being the only actor to portray Tarzan’s adopted son in multiple theatrical productions.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Tarzan Finds a Son! | 1939-06-16 | Boy |
| Tarzan’s New York Adventure | 1942-05-01 | Boy |
| Tarzan’s Secret Treasure | 1941-12-01 | Boy |
| Killer Leopard | 1954-08-22 | Bomba |
| Tarzan and the Huntress | 1947-04-05 | Boy |
| Tarzan and the Amazons | 1945-04-29 | Boy |
| Tarzan’s Desert Mystery | 1943-12-26 | Boy |
| Tarzan Triumphs | 1943-01-20 | Boy |
| Tarzan and the Leopard Woman | 1946-02-18 | Boy |
| Million Dollar Baby | 1941-05-31 | Alvie Grayson |
| African Treasure | 1952-05-06 | Bomba |
| Bomba, the Jungle Boy | 1949-03-20 | Bomba |
| The Lost Volcano | 1950-06-25 | Bomba |
| Safari Drums | 1953-06-21 | Bomba |
| Lucky Cisco Kid | 1940-06-28 | Tommy Lawrence |
| Bomba on Panther Island | 1949-12-18 | Bomba |
| Elephant Stampede | 1951-10-28 | Bomba |
| Bomba and the Hidden City | 1950-09-24 | Bomba |
| The Golden Idol | 1954-01-10 | Bomba |
| Bomba and the Jungle Girl | 1952-12-07 | Bomba |
| The Lion Hunters | 1951-03-25 | Bomba |
| Lord of the Jungle | 1955-06-12 | Bomba |
| Babes in Arms | 1939-10-10 | Bobs (as John Sheffield) |
| Little Orvie | 1940-03-11 | Orvie Stone |
| Knute Rockne All American | 1940-10-05 | Knute – Age 7 |
| The Man on the Rock | 1938-09-03 | Napoleon’s Son (uncredited) |
| Der einzig wahre Tarzan | 2004-08-22 | Himself |
| Charlie Chan’s Lucky | 2006-12-05 | Self |