Veteran actor Ron Harper, who spent decades on TV, passed away on March 21 in West Hills, CA at the age of 91 due to natural causes. His daughter, Nicole Longeuay, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter.
Harper was born in Pennsylvania and studied at Princeton before serving in the U.S. Navy. He later moved to New York City to work as Paul Newman’s understudy in Sweet Bird of Youth on Broadway. After relocating to Los Angeles, he began his television career with a role on NBC’s Tales of Wells Fargo in 1960. He went on to appear in shows such as Wagon Train, Shotgun Slade, and 87th Precinct, where he played Det. Bert Kling in multiple episodes.
In addition to his TV work, Harper had regular roles on Garrison’s Gorillas, Where the Heart Is, and Planet of the Apes. He also found success in daytime dramas, including Another World, Loving, and Generations.
Among his recent credits were roles in Pearl Harbor and The West Wing. Harper leaves behind a legacy in the entertainment industry that will be remembered for years to come
