Ron Harper, a renowned actor known for his role in the popular science fiction series, Planet of the Apes, has passed away at the age of 91. Harper’s daughter, Nicole Longeuay, confirmed that he died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Apart from his notable role in Planet of the Apes, Harper was famous for his appearances in multiple soap operas like Love of Life and Where The Heart Is. Throughout his career, he starred in several television series, including the 30-episode police drama, 87th Precinct, and the 12-episode sitcom, The Jean Arthur Show.
Harper’s most significant break came in 1974 when he was cast in the role of Colonel Alan Virdon on the Planet of the Apes series, a science fiction drama interpretation of the successful movie franchise that began in 1968. Harper starred as an astronaut whose spaceship crashed on an unknown planet, which was later discovered to be inhabited and controlled by intelligent apes.
The poorly-rated television series was canceled after 14 episodes, and Harper moved on to star in other productions, including the children’s adventure series Land Of The Lost in 1976 for its third and final season, where he starred as Uncle Jack Marshall. Speaking about the show in 2005, Harper mentioned that the stories were impressive, and every generation of children enjoyed them.
Harper intended to become an attorney; however, his love for acting caused him to turn down his scholarship to Harvard Law School after obtaining a fellowship to the institution. He started his acting career in the Broadway production of Sweet Bird of Youth in 1959 as Paul Newman’s understudy. Throughout his career, Harper acted in several movies and TV shows, including The Odd Couple II, Pearl Harbour, and Glass Trap.
Harper’s death comes as a significant loss to the entertainment industry, and his impressive body of work will always be remembered by his admirers
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