About
"I'm so grateful for 'Lost in Space,' you have no idea. A robot who was my straight man? Come on, you don't get that every day."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Jonathan Harris (1914-2002) talks about his early career on the New York stage and his first appearances on television. He recalls appearing on various classic anthology series, including Omnibus, Lights Out, Schlitz Playhouse, and General Electric Theatre. He describes appearing on several episodic series including Zorro, The Third Man, and The Bill Dana Show, where he found his comedic persona. Harris details his time as “Dr. Zachary Smith” on Lost in Space, including how he got the part and added comedy to the character, and his sometimes rocky relationship with fellow cast members, including Guy Williams and June Lockhart. He concludes by recalling later career work, including doing voice-over for several cartoons, as well as a guest stint on Sanford and Son. Jeff Abraham conducted the interview on June 14, 2001 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Shirley Temple's Storybook, and on working with Agnes Moorehead on that show
Jonathan Harris on being hired to play "Dr. Zachary Smith" on Lost in Space by Irwin Allen
Jonathan Harris on co-starring on The Third Man as "Bradford Webster"
Jonathan Harris on playing "Mr. Phillips" on The Bill Dana Show
Jonathan Harris on the campy Lost in Space episode "The Great Vegetable Rebellion"
Jonathan Harris on his longevity
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on movies he watched growing up, and on working in a drug store
On his early interest in theater; on early roles he played in the theater
Chapter 2
On his first Broadway role, in Henry Miller's “Heart of a City”; on his first television role on the Chevrolet Tele-Theater production "His Name is Jason"; on appearing on Lights Out
On live television bloopers, and on appearing on The Web and on Shirley Temple's Storybook with Agnes Moorehead; on appearing on Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and on Kraft Television Theatre; on appearing in the General Electric Theater production of "Blaze of Glory" with Lou Costello, and on working with actors he admired
Chapter 3
On appearing on Omnibus, in the episode "Dear Brutus"; on being typecast as eccentrics and villains, and on being a character actor; on appearing on Zorro, starring Guy Williams
On co-starring on The Third Man as "Bradford Webster"; on playing "Mr. Phillips" on The Bill Dana Show; on the writing of The Bill Dana Show and on Sheldon Leonard's direction
Chapter 4
On being hired to play "Dr. Zachary Smith" on Lost in Space by Irwin Allen; on turning "Dr. Zachary Smith" into a more comedic villain on Lost in Space, and on Irwin Allen's reaction; on working with "The Robot" (voiced by Dick Tufeld) on Lost in Space
On working with the cast of Lost in Space; on the success of Lost in Space and how the show evolved over time into being more campy; on the guest-stars of the show, and on the production schedule
Chapter 5
On the campy Lost in Space episode "The Great Vegetable Rebellion"; on the end of Lost in Space, and on the lasting legacy of the show; on guest-starring on Land of the Giants
On guest-starring on Sanford and Son, and on his friendship with Redd Foxx; on doing various cartoon voice-overs; on his longevity and on advice to aspiring actors; on picking his stage name, and on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Bill Dana Show, The
Jonathan Harris on playing "Mr. Phillips" on The Bill Dana Show
Jonathan Harris on the writing The Bill Dana Show and Sheldon Leonard's direction
Jonathan Harris on working with Don Adams on The Bill Dana Show, and on the end of the show
Chevrolet Tele-Theater aka Chevrolet on Broadway
Jonathan Harris on his first television role on the Chevrolet Tele-Theater production "His Name is Jason"
General Electric Theater, The
Jonathan Harris on appearing in the General Electric Theater production of "Blaze of Glory" with Lou Costello, and on working with actors he admired
Land of the Giants
Jonathan Harris on guest-starring on Land of the Giants
Lights Out
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Lights Out
Lost in Space
Jonathan Harris on being hired to play "Dr. Zachary Smith" on Lost in Space by Irwin Allen
Jonathan Harris on turning "Dr. Zachary Smith" into a more comedic villain on Lost in Space, and on Irwin Allen's reaction
Jonathan Harris on working with "The Robot" (voiced by Dick Tufeld) on Lost in Space
Jonathan Harris on working with Bill Mumy as "Will Robinson" on Lost in Space
Jonathan Harris on working with Guy Williams as "John Robinson" on Lost in Space
Jonathan Harris on working with June Lockhart as "Maureen Robinson" on Lost in Space
Jonathan Harris on the success of Lost in Space and how the show evolved over time into being more campy
Jonathan Harris on the guest-stars of Lost in Space, and on favorite episodes
Jonathan Harris on the production schedule of Lost in Space
Jonathan Harris on the campy Lost in Space episode "The Great Vegetable Rebellion"
Jonathan Harris on the end of Lost in Space, and on the lasting legacy of the show
Omnibus
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Omnibus, in the episode "Dear Brutus"
Sanford and Son
Jonathan Harris on guest-starring on Sanford and Son, and on his friendship with Redd Foxx
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Schlitz Playhouse of Stars in "The Kind Mr. Smith" with Vincent Price, and on appearing on Kraft Television Theatre
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Shirley Temple's Storybook, and on working with Agnes Moorehead on that show
Third Man, The
Jonathan Harris on co-starring on The Third Man as "Bradford Webster"
Web, The
Jonathan Harris on appearing on The Web
Zorro
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Zorro starring Guy Williams
Topics
Advice
Jonathan Harris on advice to aspiring actors
Bloopers
Jonathan Harris on mistakes made on live television
Television Industry
Jonathan Harris on advice to aspiring actors
Professions
Actor
Jonathan Harris on being typecast as eccentrics and villains, and on being a character actor
Jonathan Harris on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Jonathan Harris on being typecast as eccentrics and villains, and on being a character actor
Jonathan Harris on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Zorro, starring Guy Williams
Animation
Jonathan Harris on doing various cartoon voice-overs, including for the series Freakazoid!
Classic Anthology Series
Jonathan Harris on his first television role on the Chevrolet Tele-Theater production "His Name is Jason"
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Lights Out
Jonathan Harris on appearing on The Web
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Shirley Temple's Storybook
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and on Kraft Television Theatre
Jonathan Harris on appearing in the General Electric Theater production of "Blaze of Glory" with Lou Costello
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Omnibus in the episode "Dear Brutus"
Comedy Series
Jonathan Harris on playing "Mr. Phillips" on The Bill Dana Show
Jonathan Harris on guest-starring on Sanford and Son, and on his friendship with Redd Foxx
Drama Series
Jonathan Harris on co-starring on The Third Man as "Bradford Webster"
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Jonathan Harris on playing "Dr. Zachary Smith" on Lost in Space
Jonathan Harris on Lost in Space
Jonathan Harris on guest-starring on Land of the Giants
People
Don Adams
Jonathan Harris on working with Don Adams on The Bill Dana Show, and on the end of the show
Irwin Allen
Jonathan Harris on being hired to play "Dr. Zachary Smith" on Lost in Space by Irwin Allen
Lou Costello
Jonathan Harris on appearing in the General Electric Theater production of "Blaze of Glory" with Lou Costello, and on working with actors he admired
Bill Dana
Jonathan Harris on playing "Mr. Phillips" on The Bill Dana Show
Jonathan Harris on the writing The Bill Dana Show and Sheldon Leonard's direction
Redd Foxx
Jonathan Harris on guest-starring on Sanford and Son, and on his friendship with Redd Foxx
Sheldon Leonard
Jonathan Harris on working with Sheldon Leonard on The Bill Dana Show
June Lockhart
Jonathan Harris on working with June Lockhart as "Maureen Robinson" on Lost in Space
Agnes Moorehead
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Shirley Temple's Storybook, and on working with Agnes Moorehead on that show
Bill Mumy
Jonathan Harris on working with Bill Mumy as "Will Robinson" on Lost in Space
Shirley Temple
Jonathan Harris on appearing on Shirley Temple's Storybook, and on working with Agnes Moorehead on that show