#Fact1When he entered into James Monroe High School, at only 12, Jonathan was harboring dreams of joining the performers he loved on the stage.2He was most widely known to be a social butterfly.3Despite his interest in the performing arts, he couldn't afford any money for tickets, therefore, he became an expert at sneaking into shows he wanted to see.4He had a long association with Irwin Allen, for 26 years. In 1995, Harris along with the other Lost in Space crew paid tribute to Allen, who died four years after.5Harris was originally supposed to do 5 episodes of Lost in Space (1965), but proved to be so popular, he stayed on, until the show's cancelation.6Was invited by Redd Foxx's to attend Foxx's open house party, where Harris was the only white man at the party.7Would ask Sheldon Leonard about the re-writing of the storyline on The Bill Dana Show (1963).8Had attended the funeral of Bill Mumy's father, Charles William Mumy, Sr., after he passed in August 1995.9Long lives ran in his family.10When he was co-starring in The Third Man (1959), half of the episodes were shot in England, the other half were shot in Hollywood, California.11He was a part of was the Millpond Playhouse in Roslyn, N.Y.. He falsified a resume and auditioned to get in.12His father, Sam Charasuchin, was a homemaker, and his mother, Jennie Charasuchin, was also a homemaker.13When he and the rest of his sisters changed their last name, for $35, his father never forgave him. In spite of that, he and his sisters went to different universities.14His final acting voice-over role was Hubert's Brain (2001).15Was involved in every re-writing of the script on Lost in Space (1965).16Interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, in Los Angeles, California.17Met Mark Goddard on an episode of The Bill Dana Show (1963), a few years later, he would co-star with Harris on Lost in Space (1965), as his space adversary partner.18When he was approached to do the Lost in Space (1965) series, he was asked to show interest in the series, after reading the script. He was interested, but he first appeared in the premiere episode, after the unaired pilot.19His show The Bill Dana Show (1963) was unexpectedly canceled, because of NBC.20In 1970, he made a guest appearance on Get Smart (1965), starring Don Adams, who was also reunited with Harris, when he co-starred on The Bill Dana Show (1963).21Created the character of Dr. Zachary Smith on Lost in Space (1965).22Was approached by Sheldon Leonard and Danny Thomas for their first choice for the co-starring role as pompous hotel manager, Mr. Phillips on The Bill Dana Show (1963), which spun-off Make Room for Daddy (1953), the producers favored Harris.23His boss's Irwin Allen future wife, Sheila Allen, had made guest appearances on Lost in Space (1965), where Irwin met Sheila, despite 13 years Irwin's junior.24With the $2 that was given to him by his mother, he used that money to go to the movies.25Refused to discuss the pie throwing in the face, during his time on The Bill Dana Show (1963).26Harris had already done 100 stage plays in stock companies, in his youth, before appearing in his first one, when he was in Long Island, New York.27Had two sisters - Allene and Rosalie. He was the middle child.28Had never retired from acting.29Was a spokesperson for Chevrolet in 1949.30Grandfather of Melissa and Vanessa.31In 1966, he was reunited with Michael Rennie to guest-star on Lost in Space (1965), which also starred Harris and Guy Williams.32When his ex-Lost in Space (1965) co-star, Bill Mumy was about to appear with his TV family on Family Feud (1976), which was hosted by Richard Dawson, Harris called him and asked him if he was interested in appearing on the show. Mumy said no.33Was physically healthy and physically active until his death at age 87.34Father of Richard.35He was born on 4th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York, the same place where both of his sisters were born.36Before he was a successful actor, he used to work for the Bulova Watch Company.37On Lost in Space (1965), his character was the adversary sidekick of Guy Williams's character. In real-life, he didn't get along with Williams during production.38Had started attending the movie theaters, until he listened to his voice and his New York City accent. He hated it. He also had to learn how to speak appropriately, for him to become an actor.39At 5'11", he was the shortest cast of The Third Man (1959), being about 4 inches shorter than 'Michael Rennie'.40Began his television series Lost in Space (1965) at age 50.41Harris's family resided in a six-tenant apartment complex. To raise money, his mother took in boarders, some of whom were given Jonathan's bed, forcing Jonathan to sleep on the chairs in the dining room.42In 1932, when he was only 17, he legally changed his name, from Charasuchin to Harris, he also didn't inform his parents about this.43Was a longtime Encino resident.44Entertained World War II troops in the South Pacific.45Lived in the same area as: Julie London and Johnny Carson.46Began working at a pharmacy, when he was only 12.47Acting mentor and friend of Bill Mumy.48Met Guy Williams on the set of Zorro (1957), years before he co-starred with him on Lost in Space (1965).49Was a very close friend and mentor to writer/producer/director William Winckler. The two often had three hour luncheons twice a month for many years.50He was survived by two grandchildren.51His widow, Gertrude Bergman, died on August 28, 2007, at age 93, just 5 years after his death.52When he wanted to be an actor, he refused to tell his parents about his name change.53Was a Democrat.54Until his death, he received 500 letters each month. Having been grateful for the character he played on Lost in Space (1965), he answered each and every letter.55An avid opera buff.56Future parodist 'Weird Al' Yankovic, actresses Candice Bergen, Susan Olsen and Kathy Garver, also comedian Bill Maher, all said Harris was their childhood television hero.57Remained good friends with Bill Mumy during and after Lost in Space (1965).58Was very good friends with: Danny Thomas, Sheldon Leonard, Phyllis Diller, June Lockhart, Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Adam West, Leonard Nimoy, Don Adams, Redd Foxx, Michael Rennie, Shirley Temple, John Carradine, Elizabeth Montgomery, Allan Melvin, John Lasseter, William Winckler, Arthur Hiller, Irwin Allen, Bill Dana, Dick Tufeld, Richard Basehart, Liam Sullivan, Charles Nelson Reilly and Burt Reynolds.59When he was attending high school, Jonathan was interested in archeology, Latin, romantic poetry and Shakespeare.60Came up with a list of alliterative insults that eventually worked their way into popular speech on Lost in Space (1965).61Before future director John Lasseter would work with him on both movies: A Bug's Life (1998) and Toy Story 2 (1999), he would describe Harris, as his childhood television hero.62Swapped his New York City accent for a more sophisticated baritone voice, after he watched B-movies.63Had beat out both actors, Jack Elam and Carroll O'Connor for the role of Dr. Zachary Smith on Lost in Space (1965).64Prior to co-starring with Gilbert Roland and Dina Merrill in a movie that was never released, he almost died, while traveling to Cuba. At that time, Fidel Castro was on the verge of staging the coup. His crew were bombed at the airport. By the time filming was completed, Castro was in power as the new dictator, therefore the film was seized.65His only son, Richard, who was 16 at the time, visited the set of The Third Man (1959), where the relationship between father and son was reconnected.66Died just three days before he would have had his 88th birthday. That same day, his family and friends attended his funeral.67Was encouraged to listen to opera by his father at age 12.68Attended the same high school as Estelle Reiner (future mother of famous actors Rob Reiner and Lucas Reiner), then known as Estelle Lobost, who graduated a year behind him, in 1932.69He holds the world record for a guest-starring role in a single series, having been in all of the "Lost in Space" episodes except the original pilot.70He changed his named from Charasuchin to Harris because his classmates from school were making fun of him.71Best remembered by the public for his special guest starring role as Dr. Zachary Smith on Lost in Space (1965).72Was reunited with ex-Lost in Space (1965) co-star, Bill Mumy, alongside Leonard Nimoy (of Star Trek (1966) fame) at a Disney World Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. (1996).73Of Russian and Polish descent.74Before he was an actor, he worked at many drugstores in New York City.75While attending James Monroe High School, he didn't fit in well with his peers, with the exception of his future wife, Gertrude Bregman, who was his best friend.76Harris and the rest of the cast of Lost in Space (1965), were very disappointed by its cancellation in 1968, attributed to the series' high cost.77Graduated from James Monroe High School in The Bronx, New York, in 1931.78He had 12 hobbies: watching movies, playing piano, dancing, listening to opera, gardening, knitting, cooking, traveling, magic, painting, reading, and spending time with children.79His father, Sam, got struck by a car and was found dead in 1977.80He was the voice and drama coach of Chuck Norris. He "taught him how to speak", by putting his fingers in Norris's mouth, and stretching the mouth wide open. Chuck names him as the only man in the world who could get away with doing that to him... a fact of which he was always proud.81Following Lost in Space (1965), he did numerous commercials for the International House of Pancakes.82At conventions, insisted that his booth or table be separate from the rest of Lost in Space (1965) cast members. He refused to be in the same part of the building as June Lockhart and convention coordinators had to accede to his demands - he was a major draw to conventions.83He was the co-star of the Bill Dana show. Much of his banter from that show was used on the robot in "Lost in Space".84Would often sit up at night thinking of ways to insult the robot ("Be quiet, you bubble-headed booby!") while on Lost in Space (1965). His colorful put-downs for his mechanical colleague, almost all of them unscripted, are among the best-remembered aspects of the series.85His Broadway debut was in 1942 on the play "Heart of the City".86Before entering the show business, he watched lots of English movies to adopt the ways of a classical British actor.87Was a frequent guest on the Opie and Anthony radio show88Jonathan Harris died on November 3, 2002, at almost 88. Just before his death, Harris was involved in the NBC project of "Lost in Space: The Journey Home" in which the Robinson family may be returning to earth.89Although his character's eventual monopolization of Lost in Space (1965) aggravated members of the cast, all of them stated that he was the nicest of people to work with.90Harris died from a blood clot in his heart while receiving therapy at an Encino-area hospital for a chronic back problem.91He was the only cast member of Lost in Space (1965) who would not appear at fan-related conventions without being paid. His asking price was $500.92Often brought a large bag of tootsie-roll pops to work for the cast and crew.93Although he reprised his most infamous role as Dr. Smith in a one-hour TV special Lost in Space Forever (1998) in 1998, he refused a cameo in the motion picture version of Lost in Space (1998) later that year, unlike June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen and Angela Cartwright, the other stars of the 1960s series. With typically cryptic Dr. Smith flair, he announced that if he could not play his own role in the movie, he wanted nothing to do with it. Interestingly, Gary Oldman portrayed Dr. Smith in a curiously subdued fashion.94Survived by his wife, Gertrude, of 64 years and one son, Richard.95Born in the borough of the Bronx (New York City) to Russian-Jewish immigrants.96Received a degree in pharmacology from Fordham University.