Jack H. Harris
| Jack H. Harris | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Jack Henry Harris November 28, 1918 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died |
March 14, 2017 (aged 98) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States[1] |
| Occupation | film producer, film distributor |
| Years active | 1950s–1990s |
| Children |
|
| Family | Stewart Resnick (son-in-law) |
Jack Henry Harris (November 28, 1918 – March 14, 2017) was an American film producer and distributor. He produced The Blob (1958), 4D Man (1959), and Equinox (1970).[2]
Biography
Harris was born to a Jewish family[3] in Philadelphia, the son of Sara and Benny Ostravsky.[3] His mother was from Romania and his father from Poland;[3] the latter changed the family surname to Harris.[3]
Harris began his career in show business as a vaudeville performer in Gus Edwards' Kiddie Revue when he was six years old. He would later work in a theatre as an usher, in a publicity department, and in the distribution field, finally later taking up a career as a producer.[4] Harris is credited with coming up with the original motivation for his 1958 film, The Blob.[5] Harris also worked on the TV series It's About Time and The Twilight Zone.
Harris was among the 22 people selected to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014, in the motion pictures category.[6] 95 at the time of his unveiling ceremony held on February 4, 2014, he was the oldest person to be honored with a star on the Walk of Fame.[7][8]
Personal life
In 1988, he married Judith "Judy" Parker; the couple lived in Beverly Hills.[3]
Death
Harris died March 14, 2017, at his home in Beverly Hills, surrounded by his family, aged 98; he is survived by his two children, Lynda Resnick and Anthony Harris.[9]
Filmography
- The Blob (1958) - producer
- 4D Man (1959) - producer
- Dinosaurus! (1960) - producer
- Paradisio (1962) - executive producer
- Master of Horror (1965) - executive producer
- Unkissed Bride (1966) - producer, writer, director
- Equinox (1970) - producer
- Beware! The Blob (1972) - executive producer, story
- Schlock (1973) - producer
- Just Be There (1973) - presenter
- Dark Star (1974) - executive producer
- Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) - executive producer
- Prison Ship (1986) - producer
- The Blob (1988) - producer
- Blobermouth (1991) - producer
Book
In 2015 Harris published his first book, FATHER OF THE BLOB: The Making Of A Monster Smash & Other Hollywood Tales (TVGuestpert Publishing).[10]
References
- ↑ "Jack H. Harris". Cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ↑ "Television & Cable Factbook - Google Books". Retrieved December 31, 2013 – via Google Books.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "'The Blob': How fame took shape from an amorphous sci-fi classic". Jewishjournal.com. June 1, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ↑ "Return of the B Science Fiction and Horror Heroes: The Mutant Melding of Two ... - Tom Weaver - Google Books". Retrieved December 31, 2013 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Meet the Blob - Suzanne J. Murdico - Google Books". Retrieved December 31, 2013 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Matthew McConaughey, Tupac and Katy Perry Among 2014 Walk of Fame Honorees". The Hollywood Reporter. June 21, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.thewrap.com/jack-harris-producer-horror-classic-blob-dies-98/
- ↑
- ↑ "Jack Harris, who produced horror film 'The Blob,' dies at 98". Los Angeles Times. March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ↑ Harris, Jack H. (2015). Father of the Blob: The Making of a Monster Smash and Other Hollywood Tales, TVGuestpert Publishing. ISBN 9780988585515.