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Gordon Scott first flexed his 19-inch biceps as a Phys Ed major at the University of Oregon. He served as a drill instructor and MP in the Infantry, then tackled a series of short-term civilian jobs, including fireman, cowboy, and farm-machinery salesman. While working as a lifeguard, Scott was discovered by a couple of talent scouts for independent producer Sol Lesser. Selected from 200 applicants, Scott was hired by Lesser to play the eleventh movie-Tarzan in 1955's Tarzan's Hidden Jungle. Also appearing in that film was actress Vera Miles, who became Scott's third wife (they divorced in 1959). Many aficionados of the long-running film series consider Scott to be the best of the post-Weissmuller Tarzans. Of Scott's five "Tarzan" efforts, his fans are most partial to the Jay Weintraub-produced Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959) and Tarzan the Magnificent (1960). Beginning in 1960, Scott flourished as star of many an Italian sword-and-sandal epic and spaghetti western. Gordon Scott retired from acting in 1966.