Although he reprised his most infamous role as Dr. Smith in a one-hour TV special Lost in Space Forever (1998) (TV) in 1998, he refused a cameo in the motion picture version of Lost in Space (1998) later that year, unlike June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen and Angela Cartwright, the other stars of the 60s show. 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.
Although his character's eventual monopolization of "Lost in Space" (1965) aggravated members of the cast, all of them stated that he was the nicest of people to work with.
An avid opera buff.
At conventions, insisted that his booth or table be separate from the rest of "Lost in Space" (1965) cast members. 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.
Attended the same high school as Estelle Reiner (future mother of famous actors Rob Reiner and Lucas Reiner), then known as Estelle Lobost, who graduated a year behind him, in 1932.
Before entering the show business, he watched lots of English movies to adopt the ways of a classical British actor.
Before future director John Lasseter would work with him on both movies: A Bug's Life (1998) and Toy Story 2 (1999), he would describe Harris, as his childhood television hero.
Before he was an actor, he worked at many drugstores in New York City.
Best remembered by the public for his special guest starring role as Dr. Zachary Smith on "Lost in Space" (1965).
Born in the borough of the Bronx (New York City) to Russian-Jewish immigrants.
Came up with a list of alliterative insults that eventually worked their way into popular speech on "Lost in Space" (1965).
Died just three days before he would have had his 88th birthday. That same day, his family and friends attended his funeral.
Following "Lost in Space" (1965), he did numerous commercials for the International House of Pancakes.
Future parodist 'Weird Al' Yankovic, actresses Candice Bergen, Susan Olsen and Kathy Garver, also comedian Bill Maher, all said Harris was their childhood television hero.
Graduated from James Monroe High School in The Bronx, New York, in 1931.
Had beat out both actors, Jack Elam and Carroll O'Connor for the role of Dr. Zachary Smith on "Lost in Space" (1965).
Harris and the rest of the cast of "Lost in Space" (1965), were very disappointed by its cancellation in 1968, attributed to the show's high cost.
Harris died from a blood clot in his heart while receiving therapy at an Encino-area hospital for a chronic back problem.
He changed his named from Charasuchin to Harris because his classmates from school were making fun of him.
He had 12 hobbies: watching movies, playing piano, dancing, listening to opera, gardening, knitting, cooking, traveling, magic, painting, reading, and spending time with children.