Ron Harper

Born in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania--a small town just east of Pittsburgh--'Ron Harper' (qv) became valedictorian of his senior class and won an academic scholarship to Princeton University, where he supplemented his academic studies by appearing in a number of plays and musical comedies. He earned a fellowship to study law at Harvard but the "acting bug" lured him instead to New York, where he studied with 'Lee Strasberg'. Next came a stint in the US Navy (mostly spent in Panama), followed by a return to New York. After several disappointments he earned a job as 'Paul Newman' (qv)'s understudy in "Sweet Bird of Youth". Hollywood soon beckoned and Harper appeared in a succession of TV series: _87th Precinct (1961)_ (qv), _The Jean Arthur Show (1966)_ (qv), _Wendy and Me (1964)_ (qv), _Garrison's Gorillas (1967)_ (qv) and _Planet of the Apes (1974)_ (qv).Following "Apes" he had roles in several soap-operas and guest-starred on various TV shows. He now lives in California.::dinky-4 of Minneapolis