Robert Francis Harper (May 19, 1951 – January 23, 2020) was an American stage, film, and television actor.

Early life

Raised in

Middletown Township, New Jersey Middletown Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the township had a total population of 67,106, making it the most-populous municipality in the county and the state's 16t ...

, he attended Mater Dei High School. He graduated with honors from

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and wa ...

with a degree in English literature.

Career

Following his college graduation, Harper took a job at

Arena Stage Arena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest, Washington, D.C. Established in 1950, it was the first racially integrated theater in Washington, D.C. and its founders helped start the U.S. regional theater movement. It is ...

, where he performed in plays by

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

Miller A miller is a person who operates a Gristmill, mill, a machine to grind a grain (for example corn or wheat) to make flour. Mill (grinding), Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surname ...

, and Wilder. He appeared on Broadway in a revival of '' Once in a Lifetime'' (directed by Tom Moore), ''The Inspector General'', and the original cast of

Arthur Miller Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are ''All My Sons'' (1947), ''Death of a Salesman'' (19 ...

's '' The American Clock''. Harper was perhaps most well known for his role as Sharkey in ''

Once Upon a Time in America ''Once Upon a Time in America'' ( it, C'era una volta in America) is a 1984 epic crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The film is an Italian–American venture prod ...

''. He also portrayed Charlie Gereson in ''

Creepshow ''Creepshow'' is a 1982 American horror comedy anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King, making this film his screenwriting debut. The film's ensemble cast includes Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Fritz Weaver, ...

''. Other film credits include '' Wiseguy'', ''

Final Analysis ''Final Analysis'' is a 1992 American neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Phil Joanou and written by Wesley Strick from a concept by forensic psychiatrist Robert H. Berger. It stars Richard Gere, Kim Basinger, Uma Thurman, Eric Roberts, Keit ...

'', '' The Insider'', '' Deconstructing Harry'', and '' Molly''. Harper played lawyers on several occasions and said he had an interest in the law. Harper played Bubba Weisberger on the 1987 – 1988 sitcom ''

Frank's Place ''Frank's Place'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on CBS for 22 episodes during the 1987-1988 television season. The series was created by Hugh Wilson and executive produced by Wilson and series star and fellow ''WKRP in Cincin ...

''. Harper's immersion into the character included spending a month at

Tulane University Law School Tulane University Law School is the law school of Tulane University. It is located on Tulane's Uptown campus in New Orleans, Louisiana. Established in 1847, it is the 12th oldest law school in the United States. In addition to the usual common l ...

, carrying a novel by Southern writer

Walker Percy Walker Percy, OSB (May 28, 1916 – May 10, 1990) was an American writer whose interests included philosophy and semiotics. Percy is noted for his philosophical novels set in and around New Orleans; his first, '' The Moviegoer'', won the N ...

while on the set, and reading short stories by

Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the thre ...

. A ''Chicago Tribune'' review called Harper " a slow-moving joy to behold as the seersucker-rumpled lawyer". In May 2007, Harper delivered the Commencement Address at University College,

Rutgers Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and w ...

Personal life and death

On May 30, 1981, he married Lisa Pelikan, an actress."Robert Harper Weds Lisa Pelikan, Actress." ''New York Times''. 31 May 1981: 55 Via Proquest. He was later married to a Dutch woman, Sascha Noorthoorn van der Kruyff, and died in Rotterdam.

Filmography

Television

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, Robert 1951 births 2020 deaths American male film actors Place of death missing American male stage actors American male television actors American expatriates in the Netherlands Male actors from New Jersey Male actors from New York City Mater Dei High School (New Jersey) alumni People from Middletown Township, New Jersey Rutgers University alumni