Robert Harper obit

ROBERT HARPER Obituary

 He was not on the list.

HARPER--Robert Francis, died after a brave fight with cancer, on January 23, 2020 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with his wife Sascha Noorthoorn van der Kruyff at his side. Born in New York City on May 19, 1951, the fourth son of Eugene and Muriel (nee Drumgoole) Harper, he had a long career on stage, screen, and television, including, among many credits, in the Broadway premiere of Arthur Miller's "American Clock," in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America," Woody Allen's "Deconstructing Harry," George Romero's "Creepshow," Mike Newell's "Amazing Grace and Chuck," and Michael Mann's "The Insider," and as a regular or featured star in the TV series "Frank's Place, "Philly," "L.A. Law," "Roseanne," "Murphy Brown," and "Gilmore Girls." He was a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. In addition to his wife, he is survived by brothers, Eugene, James, Gerard, Daniel and his sister, Mary Harper Hagan, and predeceased by brothers, Lawrence, Thomas, and William. Also surviving are 15 nieces and nephews and five grand-nieces and nephews. He graduated from Mater Dei High School (now Prep) in Middletown, NJ and Rutgers College in New Brunswick, NJ, at which he delivered the commencement address at University College in 2007. A memorial service will be held in New Jersey at a later date.

 

Filmography

 

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1981            Mommie Dearest            David  

1982            Creepshow      Charlie Gereson            (Segment: "The Crate")

1984    Once Upon a Time in America            Sharkey         

1987            Wanted: Dead or Alive            Dave Henderson       

Amazing Grace and Chuck            Bowman         

1988    Twins            Gilbert Larsen 

1989    The War of the Roses   Heath  

1992    Final Analysis            Alan Lowenthal       

1993            Gunmen          Rance  

The Wrong Man     Felix Crawley            Made-for-cable movie

1997            Deconstructing Harry            Harry's Doctor

1999    Molly            Dr. Simmons         

The Insider            Mark Stern   

 

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1983    13 Thirteenth Avenue Marv Hoberman            TV movie

Dempsey            Damon Runyon TV movie

1984            Remington Steele            Todd Doke            Episode: "Dreams of Steele"

1985    Dallas            Emergency Doctor            Episode: "Close Encounters"

1986    Kung Fu: The Movie            Prosecutor      TV movie

Newhart            Mr. Lalow            Episode: "Saturday in New York with George"

1987    J. Edgar Hoover            Clyde Tolson  TV movie

Stingray            Billy            Episode: "Echoes"

Deadly Deception            Garrett            TV movie

Murder Ordained            Warren            TV movie

Not Quite Human J.J. Derks   TV movie

Knots Landing            Priest            Episode: "The Gift of Life"

1987–1988            Matlock          Walter Judd / Michael Palmer  2 episodes

Frank's Place            Bubba 'Si' Weisberger            22 episodes

1988            Outback Bound            Bennett            TV movie

Murphy Brown            Henry Tucker            Episode: "Set Me Free"

1989    CBS Schoolbreak Special Charles Bird            Episode: "Words to Live By"

Roseanne            Dr. Edgar Lang            1 episode

The Case of the Hillside Stranglers            Los Angeles Deputy D.A. Richard Carson TV movie

My Name Is Bill W.  Dr. Jeremy Partlin            TV movie

Nick Knight            Dr. Jack Brittington            TV movie

Jake and the Fatman Paul Abbot            Episode: "The Way You Look Tonight"

Wiseguy            Dewitt Clipton 4 episodes

1990    Love and Lies            Clinton Posey   TV movie

Babies  Sam Clarington            TV movie

1991    Held Hostage: The Sis and Jerry Levin Story            Moorehead     TV movie

Gabriel's Fire            Doc Fulton            Episode: "One Flew Over the Bird's Nest"

Star Trek: The Next Generation            Lathal Bine            Episode: "The Host" (uncredited)

Payoff  Benny Cowan TV movie

1992    Room for Two            Timothy Sinowsky            Episode: "Psyched!"

The Commish            Professor Gerald Hanick            Episode: "Video Vigilante"

Murder, She Wrote  Paul Crenshaw            Episode: "Murder in Milan"

Running Mates            Gordy Faust    TV movie

1989–1993            L.A. Law     Brian LaPorte            4 episodes

1993    Love & War     Dr. Gilroy            Episode: "I Got Plenty of Nothing"

1995    The Cosby Mysteries            Episode: "Dial 'H' for Murder"

Picket Fences               Episode: "A Change of Season"

The Home Court   Father Jablonski            Episode: "The Sydney That Works"

1996    Bless This House            Thad            Episode: "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Stereo"

The Siege at Ruby Ridge            Earl Martens            TV movie

1997    NYPD Blue     Terry Tirelli            Episode: "Three Girls and a Baby"

1998    Michael Hayes            Bomber            Episode: "Imagine: Part 1"

Any Day Now              Episode: "Huh?"

Law & Order            John St. John            Episode: "True North"

2001–2002            Philly            Judge Irwin Hawes            13 episodes

2006    Gilmore Girls     Dr. Shapiro            Episode: "The Perfect Dress"

Commander in Chief    Owen Latimer            Episode: "No Nukes Is Good Nukes"