Ronald Robert Harper (January 12, 1933 – March 21, 2024) was an American television and film actor.
Life and career Ronald Robert Harper was born in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. After earning straight A's at Turtle Creek High School, he went to Princeton University, where he was a member of the University Players. He was offered a fellowship to study law at Harvard but chose instead to study acting under Lee Strasberg.
After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, Harper returned to New York. After several disappointments, he earned a job as Paul Newman's understudy in the Broadway play Sweet Bird of Youth in 1959.Ron Harper Dies: ‘Generations,’ ‘Another World’ & ‘Planet of the Apes’ Actor Was 91 Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 4, 2024. Relocating to Hollywood, his first role was in 1960 for the NBC television series Tales of Wells Fargo. Steady television guest appearances followed, including a role on NBC's series The Tall Man. In December 1960, he appeared in the episode "Duel at Parkison Town" of NBC's Laramie, and three years later in its episode "Edge of Evil". Also, in December 1960, he appeared in Wagon Train (S4, Ep12, The River Crossing).
Harper appeared in soap operas, including CBS's series Where the Heart Is and Love of Life. He appeared as a regular performer for several television series, including Garrison's Gorillas, Planet of the Apes, and as Uncle Jack for the third season of Land of the Lost. His movie credits included roles in Below Utopia (1997), The Odd Couple II (1998), Freedom Strike (1998), Glass Trap (2005) and The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007).
Harper died at his home in West Hills, Los Angeles on March 21, 2024, at the age of 91.
Filmography
Films YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes1971The Wild SeasonSteve BlaineMyron J. Gold1982The SoldierHead of CIAJames Glickenhaus1997Below UtopiaJack BeckettKurt Voss1998The Odd Couple IIJackHoward DeutchFreedom StrikeNormanJerry P. Jacobs2001Pearl HarborMinisterMichael Bay VenomousLarry KizinskyFred Olen RayDirect-to-video release 2005Glass TrapHenry "Hank" ConlonFred Olen RayTouchedDr. DanielsTimothy Scott BogartJames Glickenhaus: Memories of the SoldierSelfDocumentary2007The Poughkeepsie TapesMike MoakesJohn Erick Dowdle2010American Bandits: Frank and Jesse JamesDocFred Olen RayDirect-to-video release2013Whoa!GeorgeTom Blomquist2014DrinkGrayEmily Moss WilsonShort film
Television YearTitleRole(s)Notes1955Kraft TheatreS8E16 "Patterns"1960Tales of Wells FargoDan HaskellS5E6 "All That Glitters" Hollywood Christmas Lane Parade of the StarsSelfTelevision special ThrillerYounger ThugS1E12 "The Big Blackout" Wagon TrainLt. BevinsS4E12 "The River Crossing" 1960–1963LaramieLee Parkison; Stede RhodesS2E12 "Duel at Parkison Town"; S4E25 "Edge of Evil"1961The DeputyJay ElstonS2E15 "Duty Bound" Shotgun SladeDeputy Griff BlanchardS2E19 "The Impatient Bullet" The Tall ManDeputy Sheriff HarryS1E20 "The Best Policy" 1961–196287th PrecinctDetective Bert KlingMain role1962Here's HollywoodSelfS2E1251964–1965Wendy and MeJeff ConwayMain role1966The Jean Arthur ShowPaul MarshallMain role1967Dateline: HollywoodSelfepisode dated September 28, 1967Hollywood SquaresSelf (Panelist)5 episodes Dream Girl of '67Self (Bachelor Judge)Shows No. 246–250, inclusive 1967–1968Garrison's GorillasLt. Craig GarrisonMain role1968The Woody Woodbury ShowSelfepisode dated March 15, 19681969The Big ValleyEric AbbottS4E13 "Top of the Stairs" Celebrity Bowling ClassicSelfTelevision special 1970–1972Love, American StyleS1E14 "Love and the Proposal"; S3E16 "Love and the Ski Lodge"1971Where the Heart IsSteve Prescott5 episodes CannonGlen RamsayS1E6 "Fool's Gold" 1974Planet of the ApesAlan VirdonMain role1975The Blue KnightBronskiS1E3 "Odds Against Tomorrow"1976Bicentennial MinutesSelf (Narrator)Episode 576 Land of the LostUncle Jack13 episodes 1980Love of LifeDr. Andrew Marriott (credit only)Episode 7316 Another WorldTaylor Halloway23 episodes 1984Mickey Spillane's Mike HammerRoger PeytonS2E2 "Too Young to Die" Remington SteeleDr. Roger ChandlerS3E9 "Cast in Steele" 1985–1987CapitolJarrett Morgan; Baxter McCandless8 episodes1988LovingCharles Hartman1990The New DragnetSheldon CarrS2E17 "Little Miss Nobody"1990–1991GenerationsPeter Whitmore62 episodes1992FBI: The Untold StoriesArthur LindbergS1E18 "Operation Lemonade"1993Beverly Hills, 90210Mickey GarwoodS3E19 "Back in the High Life Again"1995Melrose PlacePilotS4E10 "El Syd"1995–1997Night Stand with Dick DietrickBob; Charles KornhoserS1E8 "Transvestite Wedding Show"; S2E41 "Green Dick"1997NightManElderly ManS1E4 "I Left My Heart"1998Boy Meets WorldMan #1S5E19 "Eric Hollywood" Walker, Texas RangerEddieS7E2 "Trackdown" 1999Malibu, CAMr. UpdykeS1E25 "The Yacht"2001Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza PlaceLawyerS4E15 "An Eye for a Finger" The West WingChairman S2E17 "The Stackhouse Filibuster" 2008Cold CaseJoe Bosquay '08S6E4 "Roller Girl"2009UncorkedReverend WhittingTV movie2011Recorded LiveSelfS1E32015Kidnapped: The Hannah Anderson StoryRalphTV movie
References
External links
Garrison's Gorillas website Interview with Ron Harper, classicfilmtvcafe.com Ron Harper(Aveleyman) Facebook page (official)