Ron Harper (Planet of the Apes TV, Land of the Lost) passed away. (1 Viewer)

[Bryan^H]

Ron Harper, Actor Known for ‘Planet of the Apes’ and ‘Land of the Lost,’ Dead at 88

The talented actor also had major roles in soap operas and a number of short-lived TV series.

www.aol.com

Some reports have him at 91 years of age, while IMDB has him at 88 years old. At any rate he was a great actor, and I'm saddened by this news, R.I.P Ron.

 

[Flashgear]

Another sad passing, I had not heard this till now, Bryan...earlier in the 1960s, Ron Harper was in the regular cast of the Robert Lansing cop show 87th Precinct (1961-62) and lead on the war series Garrison's Gorillas (1967-68).

Garrison's Gorillas Selmur productions fall 1967 single season follow-up to Combat!

Last time I checked, both series were available for viewing on Youtube. Garrison's Gorillas has never had a licensed or studio DVD release, but Timeless released 87th Precinct on DVD about 12 years ago. I have that and the Fox DVD release of the 1974 Planet of the Apes TV series, 14 episodes now out of print.

 

[Bob Gu]

Ron Harper had a nice run for awhile in being cast as lead or co-star in series which turned out to be short run.

Harper did an interview on that 87th Precinct DVD.

"Wendy and Me". Ron Harper and Connie Stevens. I think George Burns was 'Me".

Harper was excellent as 'Garrison', a tough hero who is thinking all the time. Ron vs. Telly.

 

[Bryan^H]

Another sad passing, I had not heard this till now, Bryan...earlier in the 1960s, Ron Harper was in the regular cast of the Robert Lansing cop show 87th Precinct (1961-62) and lead on the war series Garrison's Gorillas (1967-68).
View attachment 217669
View attachment 217667
View attachment 217668

Garrison's Gorillas Selmur productions fall 1967 single season follow-up to Combat!
View attachment 217671
View attachment 217672
View attachment 217670

Last time I checked, both series were available for viewing on Youtube. Garrison's Gorillas has never had a licensed or studio DVD release, but Timeless released 87th Precinct on DVD about 12 years ago. I have that and the Fox DVD release of the 1974 Planet of the Apes TV series, 14 episodes now out of print.

View attachment 217683
View attachment 217685

View attachment 217702
View attachment 217703

View attachment 217715

I loved 'Garrison's Gorillas' I thought it was better than 'Rat Patrol'.

 

[JohnHopper]

I loved 'Garrison's Gorillas' I thought it was better than 'Rat Patrol'.

I second that statement. Good action-adventure fun!
I watched Garrison’s Gorillas in the 1990’s with clean prints and it was a treat!
Too bad, there’s no official release: a BD would be welcome.

 

[jayembee]

As far as I know, it's owned by Disney these days. I'm not sanguine about any kind of physical home video release.

 

[Sam Favate]

I always liked Ron Harper. I, of course, knew him best from Planet of the Apes, which I still think was a good show. He and James Naughton brought a down-to-earth quality to the series that I think helped it.

 

[JamesSmith]

I was just thinking of him the other day. My thought process was remembering the tv stars who were still with us, and I had put his name on the list. And then this happens. I feel bad that we are losing so many talented people from that generation, and (I feel) that today's stars don't measure up.

Sad. Best wishes for his family.

--james

 

[JamesSmith]

Garrison's Gorillas is another series that really needs to be out on DVD. The sixties shows had their pluses, and I miss them. If physical media gets a second life, GG really needs to be on the top of the list.

--james

 

[Jack P]

He was also a regular on the short lived "Jean Arthur Show" sitcom in 1966-67.

 

[JohnHopper]

I second that statement. Good action-adventure fun!
I watched Garrison’s Gorillas in the 1990’s with clean prints and it was a treat!
Too bad, there’s no official release: a BD would be welcome.

Garrison’s Gorillas had some good directors:
Joseph Sargent, Gerald Mayer and three Combat! craftsmen (Michael Caffey, Georg Fenady, John Peyser)

 

[Wvtvguy]

I picked up 87th Precinct years ago as a blind buy. Outstanding show! I don’t think I’ve seen a bad episode yet.

Also had one of the tallest casts I’ve seen! Well…other than Norman Fell.

RIP Ron Harper

 

[jayembee]

I picked up 87th Precinct years ago as a blind buy. Outstanding show! I don’t think I’ve seen a bad episode yet.

The original books by Ed McBain ain't no bag of possums, either! They are the Platonic Ideal of police procedurals.

 

[JohnHopper]

Garrison’s Gorillas had some good directors:
Joseph Sargent, Gerald Mayer and three Combat! craftsmen (Michael Caffey, Georg Fenady, John Peyser)

Garrison’s Gorillas had one great creative guy:
Paul Playdon working as a writer and a story editor for the series.
Playdon used to be the finest writer on Mission: Impossible.