| |
|---|---|
| Jonathan Harris | |
| Credits | |
| Roles | Johann Sebastian Monroe Sir Leslie Bancroft |
| Biographical Information | |
| Birth Name | Jonathan Charasuchin |
| Birthdate | November 6, 1914 |
| Birthplace | Bronx, New York, United States |
| Death Date | November 3, 2002 (age 87) |
| Death Place | Encino, California, United States[1] |
Jonathan Harris played piano teacher Johann Sebastian Monroe in "Samantha on the Keyboard" (1968) and client Sir Leslie Bancroft in "Paul Revere Rides Again" (1970).
Biography[]
Jonathan Harris was an American stage, television and voice-over actor. He was born as Jonathan Charasuchin (the son of Russian immigrants) in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in Brooklyn.
Harris received a pharmacology degree from Fordham University, but after seeing several local plays he decided he wanted to pursue acting. To correct his Brooklyn accent he watched hundreds of English movies, changed his name, and then joined the Millpond Playhouse in Long Island. His Broadway debut was in 1942's "Heart of the City".
During World War II he toured with the USO in the Pacific Theater. Upon his return he landed a co-starring role in the 1957-1960 series "The Third Man". Other television followed including guest spots in "The Outlaws", "Bonanza" and a regular part in "The Bill Dana Show". In 1965 he was cast in his most famous role, Dr. Zachary Smith, in the pilot for "Lost in Space". TV Guide proclaimed Harris the best supporting actor of 1966. With the unexpected cancellation of the series, Harris found himself fighting typecasting. He found guest roles in "Night Gallery", "Bewitched", Ghost and Mrs. Muir", "Sanford and Son" and "Get Smart".
By 1982 he all but retired from on screen performances and devoted himself to voice-over work. His voice was heard in numerous commercials and cartoons including "Darkwing Duck", "Freakazoid!", "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command", "Toy Story 2" and "Hubert's Brain". He also provided the voice for the fabulously smarmy Cylon, Lucifer, on the original "Battlestar Galactica". Harris reprised his role as Dr. Smith in the one-hour television special "Lost in Space Forever" in 1998. His last major role was in "A Bug's Life".
Harris died at Encino Medical Center from a blood clot that reached his heart after he was hospitalized for an unrelated illness. He was attended by Gertrude Bergman, his wife of sixty-four years. Funeral services for Harris were held on what would have been his eighty-eighth birthday. At the time of his death, he was working on a television movie, "Lost in Space: The Journey Home".[2]
Trivia[]
Two of his Lost in Space co-stars were also Bewitched alumni - June Lockhart and Billy Mumy.
References[]
- ↑ Jonathan Harris on the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on May 3, 2020.
- ↑ Iola and Dodge, Russ. Jonathan Harris on Findagrave.com, November 4, 2002. Retrieved on May 4, 2020, edited.