Jonathan Harris (1914-2002)

November 4, 2002 9:52 PM

Jonathan Harris (1914-2002) No one wreaked interplanetary havoc -- and devoured Irwin Allen's scenery -- quite like Harris as Dr. Zachary Smith, the distinctively diabolical space stow-away in the 60's TV series Lost In Space. A fifty-year veteran of movies and TV, Harris was 87 when he passed away Sunday.
posted by LinusMines (10 comments total)

oh dear!
posted by suprfli at 10:16 PM on November 4, 2002

danger, will robinson!

i was actually fascinated by this show, although it was rarely available for viewing as i was growing up
posted by lescour at 10:39 PM on November 4, 2002

One of the best voices too. Perfect for his LIS character.
posted by Dark Messiah at 10:47 PM on November 4, 2002

Oh, the pain, the pain!
posted by mikhail at 12:32 AM on November 5, 2002

Dang, Suprfli wins. In Japan Rupert Murdoch's SkyPerfect satellite system has the misnamed SuperChannel, which randomly flings castoff relic shows across the heavens. My (Japanese) wife became a fan of LIS a couple years ago, especially imitating Dr. Smith's "Oh, Deeeeeeer!" In the last couple weeks we started getting The Brady Bunch and Happy Days. Just imagine a Japanese woman going, "Aaaayy, sit on it, Potsie!"
posted by planetkyoto at 12:42 AM on November 5, 2002

Well, that's a downer. I love watching Lost In Space whenever I find it, and Dr. Smith was the best part!
posted by Katemonkey at 2:17 AM on November 5, 2002

Agreed. The interplay between cowardly Smith, intrepid Will, and the Robot was the best thing about that show. Except for the hot blonde, of course.

And Mikhail's right: Smith's classic phrase, "Oh, the pain...", uttered with such frightful despair, remains one of my favorite catchphrases to this day. RIP, Dr Smith.
posted by davidmsc at 5:58 AM on November 5, 2002

Thanks for posting this, Linus. Without Dr Smith, the Robinsons never would have ended up Lost in Space...
posted by Shane at 6:06 AM on November 5, 2002

That's Basil Bitterbottom, you cantankerous crocodile!
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:24 AM on November 5, 2002

I'll miss him...

and smart dalek--I can't believe he was in a kid's show with Charles Nelson Reilly! and that his name was Bitterbottom!?! (if only Paul Lynde was in it, it could have been a perfect trifecta)
posted by amberglow at 8:35 AM on November 5, 2002