Ron Harper,Land of the LostandPlanet of the ApesStar, Dead at 91

Mar. 15, 2025

Ron Harper.Photo:Elmer Holloway/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Elmer Holloway/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Ron Harper, best known for his roles inLand of the LostandPlanet of the Apes, has died. He was 91.

His daughter, Nicole Longeuay, confirmed that the late actor died of natural causes in his home in West Hills, California on Thursday, perThe Hollywood Reporter.

“I know he’ll be watching over all of us, until we meet again,” she concluded.

PEOPLE has reached out to Harper’s rep for comment.

Ron Harper in ‘Planet of the Apes’.Silver Screen Collection/Getty

Silver Screen Collection/Getty

Shortly after, he nabbed the part of Jeff Conway, husband to Connie Stevens' titular character, inWendy and Me. His time on the series was short-lived, the sitcom ran on ABC from 1964 to 1965. His 15-year-long career in television proceeded with his roles in CBS’The Jean Arthur Showin 1966 and ABC’sGarrison’s Gorillasin 1967.

Ron Harper in Planet of the Apes.CBS via Getty

CBS via Getty

In 1974, Harper was cast as astronaut Alan Virdon onPlanet of the Apes. The series, which came shortly after the 1968 originalPlanet of the Apesfilm, was canceled after 14 episodes.

Harper later took on the role of Uncle Jack in NBC’sLand of the Lostin 1976 for its third and final season.

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In a2005 interviewfor the series' bonus features, Harper revealed that his daughter was a big fan of theLand of the Lostseries.

“The stories were very good,” he explained. “Each generation of children as they come up and are exposed to it like those stories and remember them, pass them right on. I have about three tapes, and I’ve been showing them to my daughter since she was 5. And she still, of all my series, lovesLand of the Lostbest.”

source: people.com