Ron Harper, a versatile actor with an impressive resume of television roles, passed away on March 21 in West Hills, CA at the age of 91. His daughter, Nicole Longeuay, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born in Pennsylvania and raised by his mother after his father abandoned him, Harper studied at Princeton University before serving in the U.S. Navy. After leaving the military, he relocated to New York City and began working as Paul Newman’s understudy in Sweet Bird of Youth on Broadway. Harper later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television.
Harper’s TV career took off in 1960 with a role in NBC’s Tales of Wells Fargo and continued with appearances in shows like Wagon Train, Shotgun Slade, and 87th Precinct where he portrayed Det. Bert Kling for multiple episodes. Throughout the years, Harper had various recurring roles on television including Garrison’s Gorillas, Where the Heart Is and Planet of the Apes. He also found success in daytime drama landing roles in Another World, Loving and Generations.
In more recent years, Harper appeared in Pearl Harbor and portrayed a chairman in The West Wing
