Ron Harper
The “Planet of the Apes” star died at the age of 91
His breakthrough: Ron Harper in “Planet of the Apes” in 1974.
© imago images/Allstar
He starred in the series “Planet of the Apes” and in the hit film “Pearl Harbor”: Ron Harper has now died at the age of 91.
Mourning for Ron Harper (1933-2024): The “Planet of the Apes” actor died at the age of 91. His daughter confirmed this told The Hollywood Reporter. Harper died last Thursday (March 21) at his home in West Hills, Los Angeles.
Drama school instead of law school
Harper appeared in various television series and films over five decades. After studying at Princeton University, he was offered a law degree at Harvard. However, he turned it down for his great passion, acting. He studied acting under Lee Strasberg (1901-1982) and landed a job as Paul Newman’s (1925-2008) understudy on Broadway in the late 1950s.
In 1960, Harper went to Hollywood, where he landed his first television role – in the series “Wells Fargo”. This was followed by regular appearances in various series, soap operas and films, including recurring roles in the series “Polizeirviervier 87” and “Garrison’s Gorilla”.
Breakthrough with “Planet of the Apes”
In 1974, Harper gained greater fame in the CBS series “Planet of the Apes”, based on the films of the same name. He played astronaut Alan Virdon in 14 episodes. He was then seen in, among others, “In the Land of the Dinosaurs” and “Another World”. In 2001 he played a small supporting role in the hit film “Pearl Harbor”. Harper’s last TV appearance was in the 2015 film “Kidnapped: The Hannah Anderson Story.”
Ron Harper leaves behind a daughter, two granddaughters and his ex-wife Shirley, according to The Hollywood Reporter.