Ron Harper, star of “Land of the Lost” and the 1974 “Planet of the Apes” series, has died, according to media reports. He was 91.
His daughter, Nicole Longeuay, told the Hollywood Reporter on Monday that he died of natural causes on Thursday at his West Hills home in Los Angeles.
The late actor, who was born Robert Ronald Harper, grew up in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh. He attended Princeton University and, instead of taking up a fellowship to study law at Harvard, decided to learn acting under theater director and actor Lee Strasberg. He later became Paul Newman’s understudy in the Broadway play “Sweet Bird of Youth” in 1959.
Harper opened up about his decision to pursue acting over the law in 1966.
“I kept saying to myself, ‘Should you waste your good education being an actor?’ And that little voice within me kept saying things like, ‘What do you...
His daughter, Nicole Longeuay, told the Hollywood Reporter on Monday that he died of natural causes on Thursday at his West Hills home in Los Angeles.
The late actor, who was born Robert Ronald Harper, grew up in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh. He attended Princeton University and, instead of taking up a fellowship to study law at Harvard, decided to learn acting under theater director and actor Lee Strasberg. He later became Paul Newman’s understudy in the Broadway play “Sweet Bird of Youth” in 1959.
Harper opened up about his decision to pursue acting over the law in 1966.
“I kept saying to myself, ‘Should you waste your good education being an actor?’ And that little voice within me kept saying things like, ‘What do you...
- 3/25/2024
- by Raquel 'Rocky' Harris
- The Wrap
Ron Harper, whose career in TV spanned several decades with roles in Generations, Planet of the Apes, Land of the Lost and Another World, died March 21 of natural causes in West Hills, CA. He was 91.
His death was confirmed by his daughter, Nicole Longeuay, to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Pennsylvania-born actor studies at Princeton and served in the U.S. Navy before returning to New York City to serve as Paul Newman’s understudy in Sweet Bird of Youth on Broadway. He later moved to Los Angeles to kick off a career in television, starting with a 1960 role in NBC’s Tales of Wells Fargo before booking spots in shows like Wagon Train, Shotgun Slade and 87th Precinct, in which he played Det. Bert Kling for multiple episodes.
Other regular gigs on the small screen included a run on Garrison’s Gorillas, as well as Where the Heart Is and Planet of the Apes.
His death was confirmed by his daughter, Nicole Longeuay, to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Pennsylvania-born actor studies at Princeton and served in the U.S. Navy before returning to New York City to serve as Paul Newman’s understudy in Sweet Bird of Youth on Broadway. He later moved to Los Angeles to kick off a career in television, starting with a 1960 role in NBC’s Tales of Wells Fargo before booking spots in shows like Wagon Train, Shotgun Slade and 87th Precinct, in which he played Det. Bert Kling for multiple episodes.
Other regular gigs on the small screen included a run on Garrison’s Gorillas, as well as Where the Heart Is and Planet of the Apes.
- 3/25/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
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.
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The actor joined Sid and Marty Krofft’s Land of the Lost in its third (and what would be final) season,...
Harper died Thursday of natural causes at his home. His daughter, Nicole Longeuay, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
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The actor joined Sid and Marty Krofft’s Land of the Lost in its third (and what would be final) season,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
Ron Harper, who starred in iconic science-fiction series like Planet of the Apes and Land of the Lost, has died at 91. His daughter, Nicole Longeuay, says her father died of natural causes at his home in West Hills on Thursday.
Ron Harper, with his golden hair, piercing eyes, and suave demeanor, was an understudy for Paul Newman on Broadway before playing notable roles like Alan Virdon in the Planet of the Apes series, Uncle Jack in Land of the Lost, and Peter Whitmore in the TV series Generations. Before striking it rich with roles that would increase his star power, Harper appeared in four series that never got a second season, including 87th Precinct, Wendy and Me, The Jean Arthur Show, and Garrison’s Gorillas.
Thankfully, Planet of the Apes helped put Harper on executive’s watch lists. While Planet of the Apes didn’t last long on the air, Harper...
Ron Harper, with his golden hair, piercing eyes, and suave demeanor, was an understudy for Paul Newman on Broadway before playing notable roles like Alan Virdon in the Planet of the Apes series, Uncle Jack in Land of the Lost, and Peter Whitmore in the TV series Generations. Before striking it rich with roles that would increase his star power, Harper appeared in four series that never got a second season, including 87th Precinct, Wendy and Me, The Jean Arthur Show, and Garrison’s Gorillas.
Thankfully, Planet of the Apes helped put Harper on executive’s watch lists. While Planet of the Apes didn’t last long on the air, Harper...
- 3/25/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Ron Harper, who starred on Planet of the Apes and four other short-lived primetime series and on the final season of the beloved kids TV show Land of the Lost during a very busy 15 years on television, has died. He was 91.
Harper died Thursday of natural causes at his home in West Hills, his daughter, Nicole Longeuay, told The Hollywood Reporter.
After understudying for Paul Newman on Broadway, Harper portrayed Det. Bert Kling alongside Norman Fell, Robert Lansing, Gregory Walcott and Gena Rowlands on the 1961-62 NBC cop show 87th Precinct, based on the novels of Ed McBain.
He played Jeff Conway, the husband of Connie Stevens’ character, on the 1964-65 ABC sitcom Wendy and Me, also starring George Burns, who produced the show and appeared as the owner of the apartment building in which the young couple lives.
Next up for Harper were turns as the son of Jean Arthur...
Harper died Thursday of natural causes at his home in West Hills, his daughter, Nicole Longeuay, told The Hollywood Reporter.
After understudying for Paul Newman on Broadway, Harper portrayed Det. Bert Kling alongside Norman Fell, Robert Lansing, Gregory Walcott and Gena Rowlands on the 1961-62 NBC cop show 87th Precinct, based on the novels of Ed McBain.
He played Jeff Conway, the husband of Connie Stevens’ character, on the 1964-65 ABC sitcom Wendy and Me, also starring George Burns, who produced the show and appeared as the owner of the apartment building in which the young couple lives.
Next up for Harper were turns as the son of Jean Arthur...
- 3/25/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jack Hogan, an actor who starred in ABC’s Combat! for 111 episodes, died Dec. 6 of natural causes at his home in Bainbridge Island, Wash. He was 94 years old.
The news was confirmed to Variety by his son West.
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Hogan played Pfc William G. Kirby on Combat!, starring alongside Rick Jason, Vic Morrow and Pierre Jalbert. The show...
The news was confirmed to Variety by his son West.
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Hogan played Pfc William G. Kirby on Combat!, starring alongside Rick Jason, Vic Morrow and Pierre Jalbert. The show...
- 12/11/2023
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
Jack Hogan, a retired actor who starred in the WWII drama series “Combat!” from 1962 until 1967, died of natural causes on Dec. 6 at his home on Bainbridge Island, Washington, his son West told Variety. He was 94.
Hogan played Pfc William G. Kirby on the ABC series “Combat!,” starring Rick Jason, Vic Morrow and Pierre Jalbert. The show, which ran for five seasons, follows a squad of American soldiers fighting the Germans in France during WWII.
Born Richard Roland Benson, Jr. on Nov. 24, 1929, in Chapel Hill, N.C., Hogan earned his pilot’s license at the age of 16 and joined the Air Force after graduation. He spent four years serving as a staff sergeant in Japan during the Korean War.
After moving to Hollywood, Hogan worked as a lifeguard at the Beverly Hills Hotel and began taking acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Hogan made his onscreen debut as an uncredited role...
Hogan played Pfc William G. Kirby on the ABC series “Combat!,” starring Rick Jason, Vic Morrow and Pierre Jalbert. The show, which ran for five seasons, follows a squad of American soldiers fighting the Germans in France during WWII.
Born Richard Roland Benson, Jr. on Nov. 24, 1929, in Chapel Hill, N.C., Hogan earned his pilot’s license at the age of 16 and joined the Air Force after graduation. He spent four years serving as a staff sergeant in Japan during the Korean War.
After moving to Hollywood, Hogan worked as a lifeguard at the Beverly Hills Hotel and began taking acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Hogan made his onscreen debut as an uncredited role...
- 12/11/2023
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
The episode of Best Horror Movie You Never Saw covering The Nest was Written and Edited by Ric Solomon, Narrated by Kier Gomes, Produced by John Fallon and Tyler Nichols, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
While the early to mid-part of the ’80s was the time of the slasher, the later part of the decade decided to try a lot of new things. You had non-slasher sequels like Phantasm 2, Ghoulies 2, Critters 2, and Poltergeist III. You also had cool one-off properties like Bad Dreams, Dead Heat, and Killer Klowns From Outer Space. 1988 alone brought back the killer bug trope and while Juan Piquer Simon has the more famous gross out insect fest with Slugs, the other one is most certainly in the Best Horror Movie You Never Saw camp. Like Hudson from Aliens feared, let’s go on a bug hunt with 1988’s The Nest (watch it...
While the early to mid-part of the ’80s was the time of the slasher, the later part of the decade decided to try a lot of new things. You had non-slasher sequels like Phantasm 2, Ghoulies 2, Critters 2, and Poltergeist III. You also had cool one-off properties like Bad Dreams, Dead Heat, and Killer Klowns From Outer Space. 1988 alone brought back the killer bug trope and while Juan Piquer Simon has the more famous gross out insect fest with Slugs, the other one is most certainly in the Best Horror Movie You Never Saw camp. Like Hudson from Aliens feared, let’s go on a bug hunt with 1988’s The Nest (watch it...
- 6/21/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
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