“Planet of the Apes” star Ron Harper has died. He was 91 years old.
Harper’s daughter Nicole Longue confirmed to Fox News Digital that her father died peacefully of natural causes on March 21st.
Ron had a long career in Hollywood. From 1961 to 1962, Harper appeared on the police show 87th Precinct. Harper then starred in Wendy and Me from 1964 to 1965.
“Planet of the Apes” star Ron Harper has died. He was 91 years old. (Getty Images)
The actor appeared in two other television shows, “The Jean Arthur Show” and “Garrison Gorillaz,” before landing a prominent role as astronaut “Alan Virdon” in the television series “Planet of the Apes.”.
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The show followed a series of five films of the same name. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series did not perform well at the box office and was canceled after 14 episodes.
Circa 1960, “Planet of the Apes” actor Ron Harper poses for a portrait. (Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
“Our Planet of the Apes story has degenerated into a furry version of Fugitive, and I think that’s one of the factors that cut short what should have been a much longer run.” Director Harper told Tom Weaver in his book “I Talked to Zombies.” ” reported The Hollywood Reporter.
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Following Planet of the Apes, Harper co-starred with Marty Kroft in the third and final season of The Lost Country in 1976. Ron played the family’s Uncle Jack in the sci-fi series.
Ron Harper died of natural causes on March 21st. His photo was taken here on July 13, 2013. (Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
Harper only appeared for one season, but made several guest appearances on the series over the next few years.
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“The story was really good,” Harper said in a 2005 interview, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Each generation of children is exposed to such stories, remembers them, and immediately passes them on. I have about three tapes and have been showing them to my daughter since she was five years old. And she still shows it. Of all my series, ‘Land of the Lost’ is my favorite.”
Harper was born on January 12, 1933. After graduating from high school, Ron won a scholarship to Princeton University and then was offered a fellowship to Harvard Law School, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Ron Harper, Roddy McDowall, and James Norton on the set of the 1974 television series “Planet of the Apes.” (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
“I kept saying to myself, ‘Why waste a good education as an actor?’ And that little voice inside me said, ‘What on earth did I get that fellowship to Harvard Law for? Do you want to have it? Become an actor. It’s fun to starve,'” Harper said in 1966, the paper reported. “And like the fool any actor should be, I listened to that silly little voice.”
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In addition to his daughter Nicole, Harper is survived by his granddaughters Ronnie and Harper, and his ex-wife Shirley. Prior to marrying Shirley, Harper was married to Sally Stark.
Fox News Digital’s Larry Fink contributed to this report
