Jack H. Harris

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]

Jack H. Harris
Born
Jack Henry Harris

(1918-11-28)November 28, 1918
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 14, 2017(2017-03-14) (aged 98)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican[1]
Occupationfilm producer, film distributor
Years active1950s–1990s
Children
FamilyStewart Resnick (son-in-law)

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

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
  1. "Jack H. Harris". Cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  2. "Television & Cable Factbook - Google Books". 1987. Retrieved December 31, 2013 – via Google Books.
  3. "'The Blob': How fame took shape from an amorphous sci-fi classic". Jewishjournal.com. June 1, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  4. Weaver, Tom (2000). Return of the B Science Fiction and Horror Heroes: The Mutant Melding of Two ... - Tom Weaver - Google Books. ISBN 9780786407552. Retrieved December 31, 2013 – via Google Books.
  5. Murdico, Suzanne (15 January 2005). Meet the Blob - Suzanne J. Murdico - Google Books. ISBN 9781404202719. Retrieved December 31, 2013 – via Google Books.
  6. "Matthew McConaughey, Tupac and Katy Perry Among 2014 Walk of Fame Honorees". The Hollywood Reporter. June 21, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  7. "Jack Harris, Producer of Horror Classic 'The Blob,' Dies at 98". March 14, 2017.
  8. "'Blob' producer Jack Harris gets Hollywood star". February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-02-28.
  9. "Jack Harris, who produced horror film 'The Blob,' dies at 98". Los Angeles Times. March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  10. Harris, Jack H. (2015). Father of the Blob: The Making of a Monster Smash and Other Hollywood Tales, TVGuestpert Publishing. ISBN 9780988585515.
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