Beloved cult classic actor dies at 95 during heartbroken daughter’s speech | Celebrity News | Showbiz and TV

The death of actor Jonathan Haze at the age of 95 is a sad day for his loyal fans.

The news was broken to Deadline by his devoted daughter Rebecca, who confirmed that he died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday. He had been a frequent collaborator with producer Roger Corman since he was first discovered in 1957.

The actor was first discovered after a chance encounter while working at a gas station. Hollywood director Wyott Ordung, which led to him being offered a role in Monster From The Ocean Floor. It was a small role, but it allowed the bright-eyed hopeful to step onto the first rung of the ladder and he quickly became a seasoned actor.

Highlights included roles in Corman’s The Fast and the Furious in 1954, followed by Five Guns West in 1955. He amassed 41 acting credits, including 20 Corman films, as the duo developed a great working relationship.

Tragically, Corman died three years ago at the age of 98, and now Jonathan follows suit. In addition to his film career, he also appeared in television programs such as Dragnet and 77 Sunset Strip.

However, perhaps his most iconic role to date was Seymour, the flower seller, in Little Shop of Horrors, a film that was so inspirational in the industry. The 1982 off-Broadway musical of the same name was modeled on it.

Although at first he seems to be working an ordinary and mundane job, everything changes when a drop of his blood falls on a plant in the shop and the plant turns into a human-like character that wants to feed.

Later, the famous “Feed me, Seymour!” He pursues her to demand human blood with her catchphrase. is now well known among fans of vintage movies.

Viewers of the comedy went into hysterics, and the actor later described its unquestionable success as “an escape from respect.”

Speaking at a nostalgic fan convention in 2001, he happily said: “Sometimes everything works out for you; some days you hit a home run, some days you hit a home run. Well, it was a home run situation.”

He added: “We were shooting the movie on the same stage where Charlie Chaplin shot his movies, there was maybe some kind of spiritual ghost there or something that affected us all, but something magical.

“Not only is it magical, but you can’t really understand what makes it great.”

Survived by his two daughters, Rebecca and DD, as well as three grandchildren and a great-grandchild, Jonathan will be nostalgically remembered and greatly missed.