Ron Harper, an actor best known for short-lived TV series like Land of the Lost and Planet of the Apes, has died. He was 91.
Harper died Thursday of natural causes at his home. His daughter, Nicole Longeuay, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
The actor joined Sid and Marty Krofft’s Land of the Lost in its third (and what would be final) season, when — in one of TV’s most clumsy “switcheroos” — original cast member Spencer Milligan parted ways with the series due to compensation disputes, and kids Will and Holly’s dad, Rick, was abruptly replaced in the mysterious realm with their uncle, Jack.
Before that, however, he landed the role of astronaut Alan Virdon in CBS’ Planet of the Apes in 1974. The series was ushered in on the heels of the five Apes movies and starred Roddy McDowall, who played Cornelius and Caesar in four of the films. But due to the series’ high production costs and low ratings, it was cancelled after just 14 episodes.
Harper also appeared in installments Tales of Wells Fargo, Thriller, Wagon Train and The Tall Man, in addition to 87th Precinct, a police drama co-starring Robert Lansing and Norman Fell.
From 1990-1991, he played Peter Whitmore in the NBC soap opera Generations for 62 episodes. Later that decade, he held a number of additional TV guest spots on series like Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Walker, Texas Ranger, The West Wing, FBI: The Untold Stories and Cold Case.
On the film side of things, he starred in The Wild Season, The Odd Couple II and Pearl Harbor.
RIP Uncle Jack from “Land of The Lost.”
I remember him from both the Planet of the Apes show (the episodes were edited together and shown as “movies” in syndication, I believe) and Land of the Lost. Condolences to his family and friends; I hope his later years were peaceful and fulfilling.
And yes, that LotL S3 transition was a little rough, addressed in an update to the (iconic) theme song no less!
Will and Holly Marshall
As the earth beneath them trembled
Lost their father through the door of time
Uncle Jack went searching
And found those kids at last
Looking for a way to escape
From the Land of the Lost
Ah, yes. I remember him as Lt. Craig Garrison from the TV show “Garrison’s Gorillas.” It lasted one season (26 episodes). He was the leader of a rag-tag group of convicts who were promised their freedom after WWII in exchange for battling the Germans. It ran from 1967-1968. “The Rat Patrol” was also from that era (1966-1968) and continues to run today on some oldie stations. I watched “The West Wing” but don’t remember him. “Garrison’s Gorillas” and “The Rat Patrol” were both appointment viewing in my home. RIP Mr. Harper.