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Jonathan Harris
Birthday:
6 November 1914
Birth Name:
Jonathan Charasuchin
Height:
180 cm
Biography
[Who remembered his character on his very first Lost in Space (1965) appearance, a quarter of a century ago]: In the beginning of the show, Dr. Smith was a 'murderer and a deep-dyed villain, and he bored me to death. There is no longevity in that kind of villainy on a weekly series. People would've hated me and wanted the character dead.
[Who remembered his character on his very first Lost in Space (1965) appearance, a quarter of a century ago]: In the beginning of the show, Dr. Smith was a 'murderer and a deep-dyed villain, and he bored me to death. There is no longevity in that kind of villainy on a weekly series. People would've hated me and wanted the character dead.
[In 1990]: ... I said 'This is not going to be palatable every week. It can't be. He's just bad.' So, I started, subliminally, to introduce comedic villainy, which is palatable. That you can live with ... and the rest, as they say, is history.
[In 1990]: ... I said 'This is not going to be palatable every week. It can't be. He's just bad.' So, I started, subliminally, to introduce comedic villainy, which is palatable. That you can live with ... and the rest, as they say, is history.
[on his Dr. Zachary Smith character]: Dr. Smith is really nutty. He is friendly only with the robot, treating the machine as the only true, real person aboard the spacecraft. I'm a little afraid of the robot because he's as wicked as I am. But he's my superior, my wedge.
[on his Dr. Zachary Smith character]: Dr. Smith is really nutty. He is friendly only with the robot, treating the machine as the only true, real person aboard the spacecraft. I'm a little afraid of the robot because he's as wicked as I am. But he's my superior, my wedge.
[In 1969]: I've been there. You won't like it.
[In 1969]: I've been there. You won't like it.
[In 1965]: I'm stage struck. I love the word actor. I still get nervous, isn't that wonderful! It's standing in the wings waiting to go on an opening night with a death wish and then going on and giving the best performance of your life. I still get that feeling, even in TV.
[In 1965]: I'm stage struck. I love the word actor. I still get nervous, isn't that wonderful! It's standing in the wings waiting to go on an opening night with a death wish and then going on and giving the best performance of your life. I still get that feeling, even in TV.
[Of his lack of romantic leading roles]: I never got the girl, because I had already killed her. I believed that an actor should look in the mirror and see what he had to see and then go out and sell it better than anyone else.
[Of his lack of romantic leading roles]: I never got the girl, because I had already killed her. I believed that an actor should look in the mirror and see what he had to see and then go out and sell it better than anyone else.
[on his popularity while playing the fifty-something Dr. Zachary Smith on Lost in Space]: I play it with my tongue so far in my cheek it hurts. How could anyone take it seriously.
[on his popularity while playing the fifty-something Dr. Zachary Smith on Lost in Space]: I play it with my tongue so far in my cheek it hurts. How could anyone take it seriously.
It doesn't get any better than that, you can go on forever.
It doesn't get any better than that, you can go on forever.
I was born in New York City, and you know something interesting? My original speech was 'Listen to me! I was born on Teddy Teddy Street and Teddy Avenue, and that's the way it is, see! Want a little coffee? Let's go and have coffee, right?' I could not play a part like that, I'd fall apart laughing on the floor. It's been so long, I'd gotten away with that.
I was born in New York City, and you know something interesting? My original speech was 'Listen to me! I was born on Teddy Teddy Street and Teddy Avenue, and that's the way it is, see! Want a little coffee? Let's go and have coffee, right?' I could not play a part like that, I'd fall apart laughing on the floor. It's been so long, I'd gotten away with that.
[In 2002]: It was the most fun in the whole world. I loved creating ... that dreadful, wonderful man.
[In 2002]: It was the most fun in the whole world. I loved creating ... that dreadful, wonderful man.
[In 1998]: I realized that the original concept of Smith was a deep-dyed, snarling villain, and he bored me to death. There's no longevity in a part like that. They'd have to kill me off in five episodes, and I'd be out of a job, unemployed again, right? So I began to sneak in the things for which I am -- at the risk of seeming immodest -- justly famous. Com...
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[In 1998]: I realized that the original concept of Smith was a deep-dyed, snarling villain, and he bored me to death. There's no longevity in a part like that. They'd have to kill me off in five episodes, and I'd be out of a job, unemployed again, right? So I began to sneak in the things for which I am -- at the risk of seeming immodest -- justly famous. Comedic villainy.
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[In 1966]: I am deliciously wicked. I am selfish, self-pitying, pompous, pretentious, peremptory, conniving, unctuous, scornful, greedy, unscrupulous, cruel, cowardly, egotistical and absolutely delightful. The boy [Billy Mumy as young Will Robinson] loves me, but I would gladly sacrifice him to achieve my ends.
[In 1966]: I am deliciously wicked. I am selfish, self-pitying, pompous, pretentious, peremptory, conniving, unctuous, scornful, greedy, unscrupulous, cruel, cowardly, egotistical and absolutely delightful. The boy [Billy Mumy as young Will Robinson] loves me, but I would gladly sacrifice him to achieve my ends.
[In 1997]: Did you know that I hang in the Smithsonian Institution? Yes, I do! In the science-fiction hall there are three pictures of me with the robot!
[In 1997]: Did you know that I hang in the Smithsonian Institution? Yes, I do! In the science-fiction hall there are three pictures of me with the robot!
[In 1967]: I developed the accent by attending English movies.
[In 1967]: I developed the accent by attending English movies.
We used to like camping out.
We used to like camping out.
I wish you well and I hope it will be a huge hit, because that would be very good for me. And if, God forbid, it's a terrible flop, well that would be very good for me.
I wish you well and I hope it will be a huge hit, because that would be very good for me. And if, God forbid, it's a terrible flop, well that would be very good for me.
[on receiving a guest-starring role for every episode of Lost in Space (1965)]: That was the first time ever in history that anybody got Special Guest Star. I started that whole nonsense.
[on receiving a guest-starring role for every episode of Lost in Space (1965)]: That was the first time ever in history that anybody got Special Guest Star. I started that whole nonsense.
This is something like we have never seen before in the history of the industry.
This is something like we have never seen before in the history of the industry.
What this project means, not just to the people of West Hartford, but to the entire capital region, cannot be put into words. This will make the greater Hartford region stronger and more vibrant and will provide countless opportunities for future generations.
What this project means, not just to the people of West Hartford, but to the entire capital region, cannot be put into words. This will make the greater Hartford region stronger and more vibrant and will provide countless opportunities for future generations.
[on his father's, Sam's death]: My father was a wonderful man, who was 93 years old, when he was killed by a car in New York City, because I adored him, because he was the sweetest, good-est and my fan. He used to stop people on the street and say, 'Guess who's my son?,' and he was wonderful, he was a darling man.
[on his father's, Sam's death]: My father was a wonderful man, who was 93 years old, when he was killed by a car in New York City, because I adored him, because he was the sweetest, good-est and my fan. He used to stop people on the street and say, 'Guess who's my son?,' and he was wonderful, he was a darling man.
[In 1993]: My parents were absolutely aristocratic pessence in Russia, but they look very nice. My mother had wonderful, fly away eyebrows and an aquiline nose. She was a very handsome lady and very domineering, as a matter of fact and my father was Mr. Adorable, really he was.
[In 1993]: My parents were absolutely aristocratic pessence in Russia, but they look very nice. My mother had wonderful, fly away eyebrows and an aquiline nose. She was a very handsome lady and very domineering, as a matter of fact and my father was Mr. Adorable, really he was.
[on his career as a stage actor]: I got thrown out of that office every day. Finally the secretary took pity on me and I got to meet Mr. Miller. He cast me as a Polish flier in the show The Heart of a City. He asked me if I could do a Polish accent, so of course I said yes, even though I hadn't a clue. I went to the Polish Consulate to find out how they spok...
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[on his career as a stage actor]: I got thrown out of that office every day. Finally the secretary took pity on me and I got to meet Mr. Miller. He cast me as a Polish flier in the show The Heart of a City. He asked me if I could do a Polish accent, so of course I said yes, even though I hadn't a clue. I went to the Polish Consulate to find out how they spoke, but everyone there had a different accent so I went home and tried to make one up. At the first rehearsal I was shaking like a leaf, worrying that I'd get fired, when the director pointed at me. 'You there, where did you get that accent' he bellowed. So I lied and told him my parents were Polish immigrants and this is how they spoke. Convinced, the director leaned over to the writer and said, 'You owe me five bucks. I told you he was a real one.' I've used that accent many times since, whenever they need something foreign. I've even used it for Chinese!
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[Of Bill Mumy]: What a darling actor he was, how lovely. Well you see, again, I study the territory, I've been in this business for 1,000 years, at least; and I study the territory. I realized early on that he was very, very important to me, and I was to him, so that we we're marvelous together. I thought very chemically suited.
[Of Bill Mumy]: What a darling actor he was, how lovely. Well you see, again, I study the territory, I've been in this business for 1,000 years, at least; and I study the territory. I realized early on that he was very, very important to me, and I was to him, so that we we're marvelous together. I thought very chemically suited.
[Who stayed up nights drawing up lists of alliterations for his Dr. Smith character to spout to the Robot, which soon became the catalyst of the show]: Fans have shown me lots of lists over the years, but none of them were complete. I know, because I've still got the original one.
[Who stayed up nights drawing up lists of alliterations for his Dr. Smith character to spout to the Robot, which soon became the catalyst of the show]: Fans have shown me lots of lists over the years, but none of them were complete. I know, because I've still got the original one.
We all agreed that our original name was all but unpronounceable.
We all agreed that our original name was all but unpronounceable.
I spoke straight New Yorkese, I was much too poor to go to acting school, so I learned to speak by going to the movies. I watched over 200 British films. I found that the way to get rid of my accent was to superimpose another.
I spoke straight New Yorkese, I was much too poor to go to acting school, so I learned to speak by going to the movies. I watched over 200 British films. I found that the way to get rid of my accent was to superimpose another.
[on asking Irwin Allen for a Special Guest Star credit on every episode of Lost in Space (1965)]: Well, the screaming, the hollering. I never heard of such a thing. On. . . about 20 minutes. Finally, he ran out of breath, and said, 'Okay,' I got it!
[on asking Irwin Allen for a Special Guest Star credit on every episode of Lost in Space (1965)]: Well, the screaming, the hollering. I never heard of such a thing. On. . . about 20 minutes. Finally, he ran out of breath, and said, 'Okay,' I got it!
[When his father finally arrived at the theatre to see his son]: He came to the dressing room, gave me a hug and a kiss; and said, 'You belong here.' I never forget it.
[When his father finally arrived at the theatre to see his son]: He came to the dressing room, gave me a hug and a kiss; and said, 'You belong here.' I never forget it.
[on trying his hand on being a leading man of the 1940s]: I thought I was Cary Grant. Oh, I looked into the mirror, and said, 'Yes, Yes. It's Cary Grant.' And then, I pulled myself together and said, 'Are you kidding? You're a character man'.
[on trying his hand on being a leading man of the 1940s]: I thought I was Cary Grant. Oh, I looked into the mirror, and said, 'Yes, Yes. It's Cary Grant.' And then, I pulled myself together and said, 'Are you kidding? You're a character man'.
[on the cancellation of "Lost in Space"]: When the curtain comes down, you're disappointed. Always, the curtain comes down. I've done so much work, and then, the curtain comes down and you go on to something else.
[on the cancellation of "Lost in Space"]: When the curtain comes down, you're disappointed. Always, the curtain comes down. I've done so much work, and then, the curtain comes down and you go on to something else.
I'm not British, just affected.
I'm not British, just affected.
Jonathan Harris
Born Jonathan Charasuchin in the Bronx to impoverished Russian-Jewish émigrés, Jonathan Harris worked as a box boy in a pharmacy at age 12 and later earned his pharmacy degree at Fordham University. However, the desire to act proved overwhelming and he forsook this promising trade for the theater, shaking off his thick Bronx accent and changing his surname to one easier to pronounce. After performing in over 100 plays in stock companies nationwide, he made his Broadway bow in 1942 with "Heart of a City" and entertained World War II troops in the South Pacific.Following his introduction to live television drama in 1948, he ventured off to Hollywood and made his film debut, co-starring with Alan Ladd and James Mason in Botany Bay (1952). However, it was television that would make him a household name - first as Bradley Webster in The Third Man (1959) opposite Michael Rennie, and then the role that made him a cult icon, Dr. Zachary Smith, the dastardly, effete stowaway on Lost in Space (1965), with Harris easily stealing the show week after week as he botched and mangled all the good intentions of the Robinson family to get back home to Earth. Unable to top this achievement and seriously typecast as a plummy villain, the remainder of his career was spent with great relish providing voice-over work in commercials and animated cartoons. Harris died of a blood clot to the heart just three days before his 88th birthday.
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