Jonathan Haze, the actor best known for his role as Seymour Krelborn in the 1960 cult classic The Little Shop of Horrors, has passed away at the age of 95. Haze died at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, confirmed by his daughter, Rebecca. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Early Career and Collaboration with Roger Corman
Born Jack Schachter in April 1929, Jonathan Haze made his film debut at age 25 in the 1954 horror-comedy Monster from the Ocean Floor. He later took on smaller roles in films like The Fast and the Furious and East of Eden. Haze’s career gained momentum after he appeared in the 1955 Western Five Guns West, directed by Roger Corman. This marked the beginning of a long collaboration with Corman, where Haze went on to star in nearly 20 films.
The Legacy of The Little Shop of Horrors
Haze’s most iconic role came in the 1960 dark comedy The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman. In the film, Haze portrayed Seymour Krelborn, an employee at a struggling florist shop who becomes entangled in a murderous plot when a strange plant he is nurturing requires human blood to survive. The film, which also starred Jackie Joseph, Mel Welles, and Jack Nicholson, became a cult classic and inspired numerous adaptations, including a successful off-Broadway rock musical in 1982, and a 1986 film directed by Frank Oz, starring Rick Moranis.
Other Notable Works and Collaborations
Haze continued working with Roger Corman in the 1963 supernatural horror film The Terror, which co-starred Jack Nicholson, another Little Shop alum. Additionally, The Little Shop of Horrors was adapted into a 1991 animated series titled Little Shop, which ran for one season on Fox Kids.
Jonathan Haze’s contribution to cinema, particularly in the horror and cult genres, remains significant, and his portrayal of Seymour Krelborn continues to be remembered by fans worldwide.
