Jonathan Haze

Biography

Jonathan Haze is an American actor, producer and scary movie idol. Best known for his work in Roger Corman films, and especially for playing "Seymour" in Corman's black comedy cult classic, The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), Haze's career spans more than 20 films in six decades, including screen-writing the science fiction comedy Invasion of the Star Creatures (1962). Born in Pittsburgh into a show business family, Haze's cousin was legendary jazz drummer and bandleader Buddy Rich. Haze started his career behind-the-scenes working stage production for his cousin Buddy, eventually becoming stage manager for Josephine Baker. A move to Los Angeles lead to Haze to working in film production and consequently becoming an almost exclusive player for low-budget producer/director Roger Corman. The slight-framed, curly-haired, gawky-looking lad made his inauspicious screen debut in Corman's Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954), but managed to continue on a steady scale in minor roles of tough guys and weirdos. He played a pickpocket in Swamp Women (1955), an ex-convict in Five Guns West (1955) and a man contaminated by radioactive fallout in Day the World Ended (1955), which was Corman's first foray into the sci-fi genre. His on-screen versatility noted, Haze received larger roles and subsequent better billing in the cheapjack productions Gunslinger (1956), It Conquered the World (1956), Naked Paradise (1957), Carnival Rock (1957), Not of This Earth (1957), and Bayou (1957) (a.k.a. "Poor White Trash"). Following work as a Viking in the incredulous The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1957), Haze landed his first starrer in the Warner Bros. drama Stakeout on Dope Street (1958), directed by Irvin Kershner. Haze plays an average…