Ronald Robert "Ron" Harper (born January 12, 1936) is an American television and film actor.

Biography

Harper was born in Turtle Creek in Allegheny County near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Mabel Grace Champion and George Harper. 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 appearing in a number of plays and musical comedies, before moving 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 Tennessee Williams play Sweet Bird of Youth in 1959. Moving to Hollywood, his first role was in 1960 in the NBC western series Tales of Wells Fargo starring Dale Robertson. Steady television guest appearances followed, including a spot on NBC's The Tall Man. In December 1960, Harper appeared in the episode "Duel at Parkison Town" of NBC's Laramie. He also appeared in soap operas, including CBS's Where the Heart Is and Love of Life.

Harper appeared as a regular performer on several TV series, including:


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
Generations, a soap opera, as Peter Whitmore (1990–1991)

He resides in California and continues to act. His latest appearance was a 2008 episode of TV's Cold Case.