Ron Harper was an actor who starred in such TV shows as “Land of the Lost,” “Planet of the Apes,” and “Garrison’s Gorillas.”
- Died: March 21, 2024 (Who else died on March 21?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in West Hills, California, of natural causes at the age of 91.
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Ron Harper’s legacy
Harper got his start in acting after serving in the U.S. Navy. He had an early opportunity on Broadway, serving as Paul Newman’s (1925–2008) understudy in “Sweet Bird of Youth.” But most of his success took place on TV, beginning with a starring role on the 1961 series “87th Precinct.” He played Detective Bert Kling in the gritty police drama. Harper went on to star alongside Connie Stevens and George Burns (1896–1996) in “Wendy and Me,” then he starred as the son of Jean Arthur (1900–1991) in “The Jean Arthur Show.”
Harper’s next starring role was his own favorite, as well as one his fans loved. He was the title character in “Garrison’s Gorillas,” a 1978 World War II drama that had similarities to “The Dirty Dozen” as it featured Harper as a military man in charge of a commando unit of paroled prisoners. Though it was well received, the show lasted just a single season; Harper believed it was cancelled because of its violence.
His next role was on another promising show that was cancelled after only 14 episodes – the TV adaptation of “Planet of the Apes.” Harper played one of the astronauts who crashed on a future Earth; he starred alongside Roddy McDowall (1928–1998), who played a different ape than his roles in the film series. He went on to join the cast of “Land of the Lost” in its third and final season, playing Uncle Jack.
Harper had recurring and regular roles on several soap operas, including “Another World,” “Loving,” and “Generations.” His other TV appearances included “Love, American Style,” “Remington Steele,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “The West Wing,” and “Cold Case.” He also appeared in such movies as “The Wild Season,” “The Odd Couple II,” and “Pearl Harbor.”
Harper on why “Planet of the Apes” failed
“It became very repetitious. Each week, either Roddy McDowall, Jim Naughton, or I would get captured and the other two would rescue him. I had several talks with the producers, stressing this is not reality – apes really do not talk, wear clothes, and shoot guns. We have infinite room to explore more stories than taking turns being rescued from the apes.” —from a 2015 interview for Classic Film & TV Cafe
Tributes to Ron Harper
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
