LOS ANGELES — Actor Jonathan Haze, best known for his starring role in the original film “Little Shop of Horrors,” has died. He was 95.
Haze died Nov. 2 at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter, Rebecca Haze, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Born April 1, 1929, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jack Aaron Schacter adopted the stage name Jack Hayes in his first credit in 1954′s “Monster from the Ocean Floor” before later changing his name to Jonathan Haze. He appeared in a number of films throughout the 1950s, including “Five Guns West,” “Apache Woman,” “Swamp Women,” “Gunslinger,” “Naked Paradise,” “Carnival Rock,” “Teenage Cave Man,” and more.
In 1960, Haze played his career-defining role as flower shop assistant Seymour Krelborn in Roger Corman’s “Little Shop of Horrors.” In one scene, Krelborn is a dentist who extracts teeth from Wilbur Force, played by Jack Nicholson in one of his first film credits. Haze’s role as Krelborn was later portrayed by Rick Moranis in the 1986 remake of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Haze had a 15-year break between acting credits from 1967 to 1982, when he appeared in “Vice Squad.” His final credit came in 2010 film “Nobody Smiling.”
Haze was married to costume designer Roberta Keith from the mid-1960s until their divorce in 1981, according to THR. Keith died September 29 at age 87.
Haze is survived by his daughters, Rebecca and Deedee; grandchildren Andre, Rocco and Ruby; and great-grandson Sonny.