Ron Harper (actor)

Harper was born in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, the son of George Harper and Mabel Grace (Champion) Harper.[1] Harper became valedictorian of his senior class and won an academic scholarship to Princeton University in New Jersey, where he supplemented his academic studies by performing in a number of plays and musical comedies, before relocating to New York City, where he studied with Lee Strasberg.

After serving in the US Navy, 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.[2] 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.[3]

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 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).

Back row, L-R James Naughton and Roddy McDowell; front: Ron Harper, in Planet of the Apes (TV series, 1974)

• 87th Precinct (1961–1962), a police drama with Robert Lansing
• Wendy and Me (1964–1965), a comedy with George Burns, Connie Stevens, J. Pat O'Malley, and James T. Callahan.
• The Jean Arthur Show (1966), a comedy, as Paul Marshall, the son of fictitious attorney Patricia Marshall, played by Jean Arthur.
• Garrison's Gorillas (1967–1968), a World War II drama series.
• Planet of the Apes (1974) as Alan Virdon, one of the astronauts.
• Land of the Lost (third season, 1976) as Uncle Jack Marshall.
• Loving a soap opera, as Charles Hartman (1988).
• Capitol a soap opera, as Jarret Morgan/Baxter Mccandless.
• Generations, a soap opera, as Peter Whitmore (1990–1991).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ron Harper (actor).

• Ron Harper at IMDb
• Ron Harper at the Internet Broadway Database
• Garrison's Gorillas website
• Interview with Ron Harper, classicfilmtvcafe.com
• Ron Harper(Aveleyman)