Trivia

He 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.

Would often sit up at night thinking of ways to insult the robot ("Be quiet, you bubble-headed booby!") while on Perdus dans l'espace (1965). His colorful put-downs for his mechanical colleague, almost all of them unscripted, are among the best-remembered aspects of the series.

Until his death, he received 500 letters each month. Having been grateful for the character he played on Perdus dans l'espace (1965), he answered each and every letter.

Had beat out both actors, Jack Elam and Carroll O'Connor for the role of Dr. Zachary Smith on Perdus dans l'espace (1965).

He holds the world record for a guest-starring role in a single series, having been in most of the episodes of Perdus dans l'espace (1965) except the original pilot.

Often brought a large bag of tootsie-roll pops to work for the cast and crew.

Jonathan Harris passed away only three days before he would have had his 88th birthday. That same day, his family and friends attended his funeral.

Before 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.

Harris passed away from a blood clot in his heart while receiving therapy at an Encino-area hospital for a chronic back problem.

Was physically healthy and physically active until his death at age 87.

Swapped his New York City accent for a more sophisticated baritone voice, after he watched B-movies.

Was invited by Redd Foxx's to attend Foxx's open house party, where Harris was the only white man at the party.

Received a degree in pharmacology from Fordham University.

Survived by his wife of 64 years, Gertrude Bregman, and one son, Richard Harris (born 1942).

Harris was originally supposed to do five episodes of Perdus dans l'espace (1965), but proved to be so popular, he stayed on, until the series' cancellation.

Met Guy Williams on the set of Zorro (1957), years before he co-starred with him on Perdus dans l'espace (1965).

Although he reprised his most famous role as Dr. Smith in the television special Lost in Space Forever (1998), he refused a cameo in the motion picture version of Perdus dans l'espace (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.

Before he was an actor, he worked at many drugstores in New York City.

He never retired from acting until his death.

Came up with a list of alliterative insults that eventually worked their way into popular speech on Perdus dans l'espace (1965).

Began his television series Perdus dans l'espace (1965) at age 50.

Despite his interest in the performing arts, he could not afford any money for tickets. Therefore, he became an expert at sneaking into shows he wanted to see.

He was the only cast member of Perdus dans l'espace (1965) who would not appear at fan-related conventions without being paid. His asking price was $500.

While 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.

Although his character's eventual monopolization of Perdus dans l'espace (1965) aggravated members of the cast, all of them stated that he was the nicest of people to work with.

Before entering the show business, he watched lots of English movies to adopt the ways of a classical British actor.

Following Perdus dans l'espace (1965), he did numerous commercials for the International House of Pancakes.

At conventions, insisted that his booth or table be separate from the rest of the cast members of Perdus dans l'espace (1965). 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.

Harris and the rest of the cast of Perdus dans l'espace (1965), were very disappointed by its cancellation in 1968, attributed to the series' high cost.

Was a commercial spokesperson for Chevrolet in 1949.

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.

Had 12 hobbies: watching movies, playing piano, dancing, listening to opera, gardening, knitting, cooking, traveling, magic, painting, reading, and spending time with children.

On Perdus dans l'espace (1965), his character was the adversary sidekick of Guy Williams' character. In real-life, he didn't get along with Williams during production.

His final acting voice-over role was Hubert's Brain (2001).

When he wanted to be an actor, he refused to tell his parents about his name change.

His only son, Richard Harris, who was 16 at the time, visited the set of The Third Man (1959), where the relationship between father and son was reconnected.

Before future director John Lasseter would work with him on both movies: 1001 Pattes (1998) and Toy Story 2 (1999), he would describe Harris, as his childhood television hero.

His widow, Gertrude Bergman, was his school sweetheart. She passed away on August 28, 2007 at age 93, only 5 years after his death.

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 earlier.

In 1977, his father, Sam Charasuchin, was struck by an automobile and was found dead.

He was the co-star of The Bill Dana Show (1963). Much of his banter from that show was used on the robot in Perdus dans l'espace (1965).

Was reunited with ex-Perdus dans l'espace (1965) co-star, Bill Mumy, alongside Leonard Nimoy (of Star Trek (1966)) at a Disney World Convention Center in Orlando, Florida (1996).

When he was attending high school, Jonathan was interested in archeology, Latin, romantic poetry and Shakespeare.

Was very close friends and mentor to writer/producer/director William Winckler. The two often had three hour luncheons twice a month for many years.

Remained good friends with Bill Mumy during and after Perdus dans l'espace (1965).

Had attended the funeral of Bill Mumy's father, Charles William Mumy Sr., after he passed away in August 1995.

His Broadway debut was in the play "Heart of the City" (1942).

Attended and graduated from James Monroe High School in The Bronx, New York (1931).

Born in the borough of the Bronx (New York City) to Russian-Jewish immigrants.

In 1970, he made a guest appearance on Max la menace (1965), starring Don Adams, who was also reunited with Harris, when he co-starred on The Bill Dana Show (1963).