Harry Johnson, an actor with credits ranging from the original `Battlestar Galactica` to `Buffy the Vampire Slayer,` various Dick Wolf programmes, and the famed `Harry & Louise` ads, died on January 2 in Los Angeles after a protracted illness, Deadline reported. He was 81. Christiane, his wife, confirmed his death to Deadline.

Born on December 27, 1942, in Plainfield, New Jersey, he was known as Chip Johnson in the 1970s and 1980s and was one of Universal Studios` final contract performers. Johnson began his screen career with the multi-part pilot episode of `Battlestar Galactica` in 1978 and went on to guest-star on dozens of TV series, including `M*A*S*H,` `Quincy M.E.`, `The Incredible Hulk,` `Simon & Simon,` `The Greatest American Hero`, `Highway to Heaven,` `The A-Team,` `Who`s the Boss?,` `Thirtysomething,` `Melrose Place,` `Party of Five,` `Days of Our Lives` and `Buffy the Vampire Slayer.`