Jonathan Haze Explained

Jonathan Haze
Birth Name:Jack Schachter
Birth Date:1 April 1929
Birth Place:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Known For:Seymour Krelboined in The Little Shop of Horrors
Years Active:1954 - present
Spouse:Roberta Keith
(? - 1981; divorced)
Relatives:Buddy Rich (cousin)

Jonathan Haze (born Jack Schachter; April 1, 1929) is an American actor, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in Roger Corman films, especially the 1960 black comedy cult classic, The Little Shop of Horrors, in which he played florist's assistant Seymour Krelboined.

Early years

Haze was born Jack Schachter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 1, 1929,[1] [2] to Betty and Harry Schachter, who was a jeweller. His cousin was jazz drummer Buddy Rich.[3]

Early career

Haze was working at a gas station in California when he was discovered by Wyott Ordung. Ordung was directing the movie Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954), which was being produced by Corman, and offered a small part to Haze.[4]

Corman, three years Haze's senior, was impressed and cast Haze in many of his films over the next ten years, including Apache Woman (1955), Day the World Ended (1955), Gunslinger (1956), The Oklahoma Woman (1956), It Conquered the World (1956), Swamp Women (1956), Naked Paradise (1957), Not of This Earth (1957), Rock All Night (1957), The Viking Women and the Sea Serpent (1957), Carnival Rock (1957), The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), and The Terror (1963).

Haze also appeared in non-Corman films, such as Bayou (1957), Stakeout on Dope Street (1958), Ghost of the China Sea (1958) and Forbidden Island (1959).

Later work

In 1959, Haze guest starred in the episode "Terror Town" of NBC's western television series Cimarron City, starring George Montgomery. Dan Duryea who portrayed the mastermind of a criminal enterprise in silver who is the half-brother of Haze's character. Haze later branched into other aspects of film making. In 1957, Haze sold his first screenplay to Arrarat Productions. Titled The Monster of Nicholson Mesa, the film was a parody of horror films.[5] He wrote the 1962 science fiction/comedy film Invasion of the Star Creatures. He also worked in production for such films as Premature Burial (1962), The Terror (1963), Medium Cool (1969), Another Nice Mess (1972), and Corman's own The Born Losers (1967).[6]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vargo . Mike . Dystopia, American Greatness, and Rock 'n Roll: 'Little Shop of Horrors' at The Public . Entertainment Central Pittsburgh.
  2. Book: Raw, Laurence. Character Actors in Horror and Science Fiction Films, 1930-1960. McFarland. 102. 2012. 978-0-786-44474-8.
  3. Book: Humphreys, Justin. 2006. Names you never remember, with faces you never forget: interviews with the movies' character actors. BearManor Media. 1-59393-041-0.
  4. Web site: Jonathan Haze Brief Biography . . 2010-09-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110918145248/http://www.answers.com/topic/jonathan-haze . September 18, 2011 .
  5. News: First Screenplay Sold . Oakland Tribune . September 7, 1957 . California, Oakland . 5. Newspapers.com. November 18, 2018.
  6. Web site: Jonathan Haze on Flixter. 2010-09-16.