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Jack H. Harris

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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]
Occupation(s)film producer, film distributor
Years active1950s–1990s
Children
FamilyStewart 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

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". Retrieved December 31, 2013 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d e "'The Blob': How fame took shape from an amorphous sci-fi classic". Jewishjournal.com. June 1, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Meet the Blob - Suzanne J. Murdico - Google Books". 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". web.archive.org. February 28, 2014.
  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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