Jonathan Harris

Jonathan Harris
Jonathan Harris, c. 1967
Born	Jonathan Daniel Charasuchin (1914-11-06)November 6, 1914 The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Died	November 3, 2002(2002-11-03) (aged 87) Encino, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Cardiovascular disease
Resting place	Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1938–2002
Spouse(s)	Gertrude Bregman (m. 1938; his death 2002)
Children	Richard (b. 1942)

Jonathan Harris (born Jonathan Charasuchin; November 6, 1914 – November 3, 2002) was an American character actor. Two of his best-known roles were as the timid accountant Bradford Webster in the TV version of The Third Man and the prissy villain Dr. Zachary Smith of the 1960s science fiction television series Lost in Space. Near the end of his career, he provided the voice of "Manny," a praying mantis in the animated feature A Bug's Life, and "Geri the Cleaner" in the animated sequel Toy Story 2.

The second of three children, Harris was born to a poor family on November 6, 1914, in the Bronx, New York City. His parents were Sam and Jennie Charasuchin, Russian Jewish immigrants who eked out a living in Manhattan's garment district. His 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 dining room chairs. From the age of 12, he worked as a pharmacy clerk.

While there was little money for luxuries, Jonathan's father took efforts to expand his son's cultural horizons. This included trips to the Yiddish Theatre, where he was encouraged by his father to listen to opera. Young Jonathan was enthralled. He discarded his Bronx accent and began to cultivate more sophisticated English tones. Although he could seldom afford tickets, Broadway plays were also an interest. Before graduating in 1931, at the age of 16, from James Monroe High School, he had also developed interests in archaeology, Latin, romantic poetry and Shakespeare. He had difficulty fitting in with his peers, who included classmate Estelle Reiner, mother of future actor/director Rob Reiner; with the exception of his girlfriend, Gertrude Bregman, whom he subsequently married. In 1932, he legally changed his name from "Charasuchin" to "Harris," apparently without informing his parents. That same year, Harris's work at the pharmacy led him to attend nearby Fordham University where he majored in pharmacology. He graduated from Fordham in 1936 and, for a time, worked in various drugstores.