Roger Perry, ‘Falcon Crest,’ ‘Star Trek,” and ‘Facts of Life’ Actor, Dies at 85

Roger Perry, an actor who has appeared in shows such as “Star Trek,” “The Facts of Life” and “Ironside,” has died at the age of 85.

Perry died Thursday following a battle with prostate cancer at his home in Indian Wells, California, the actor’s daughter told The Hollywood Reporter.

Roger Perry was born on July 12, 2018, he was a film and television actor whose career began in the late 1950s. He served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force during the early 1950s.

In the 1960–1961 television season, Perry portrayed attorney Jim Harrigan, Jr. in Harrigan and Son. He guest-starred on numerous American television series from the 1950s through the 1980s. His first television appearance was as Ted Jarvis in the 1958 episode “Paper Bullets” of the syndicated crime drama, U.S. Marshal. He appeared with James Coburn and John Dehner in the 1960 episode “Friend of the Family” of The Texan. He co-starred in the 1963-1964 series Arrest and Trial as Detective Sergeant Dan Kirby.

One of his best-known roles was that of Captain John Christopher in NBC’s Star Trek episode “Tomorrow Is Yesterday”. Other television series in which he appeared include Emergency!, Love, American Style, The Andy Griffith Show, Ironside, The F.B.I., The Eleventh Hour, The Munsters, Barnaby Jones, The Facts of Life, Adam-12, and Falcon Crest.

Perry starred in two popular American International Pictures (AIP) horror films featuring the vampire character, Count Yorga. In Count Yorga, Vampire (1970), he portrayed Dr. James Hayes, the protagonist who uncovers the true nature of Yorga (but is attacked and killed by Yorga’s brides). However, Perry returned as a different lead character in the sequel, The Return of Count Yorga (1971) as Professor David Baldwin.

Perry married actress/comedian Jo Anne Worley on May 11, 1975. They divorced in 2000 and had no children.

Perry was married to actress Joyce Bulifant. In 2014 Perry and Bulifant were honored with a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California.

Perry died at age 85 on July 12, 2018 at his home in Indian Wells, California, from prostate cancer.