Jonathan Haze, best known for his role as Seymour Krelboined in the original “The Little Shop of Horrors,” has passed away at 95. His daughter, Rebecca Haze, reported that he died peacefully of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California on November 2, 2024.
Haze’s portrayal of Seymour, the underdog florist assistant in Roger Corman’s 1960 cult film, made him a revered figure in the B-movie genre. “The Little Shop of Horrors” features Seymour’s discovery of an unusual plant with a craving for human blood. The film’s popularity led to an off-Broadway musical in 1982 and a subsequent film adaptation in 1986, starring Rick Moranis.
His character of the timid florist resonated with viewers, making Seymour a cherished character in the realm of horror comedy. Jackie Joseph, who played Audrey in the original “The Little Shop of Horrors,” praised Haze’s professionalism during the film’s challenging production period. “I don’t think any of us would have been as successful if he hadn’t been on top of what he was doing. It’s funny to think of ‘professionalism’ when you think of something as dopey as Little Shop, but there definitely were professionals on that stage,” Joseph said.
Born as Jack Aaron Schachter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1929, Haze’s journey to Hollywood included serving as Josephine Baker’s stage manager for two years before hitchhiking to Los Angeles. He was discovered by filmmaker Wyott Ordung while working at a gas station, leading to his first acting role in Corman’s “Monster from the Ocean Floor” in 1954, which started his extensive collaboration with Corman. Haze appeared in over two dozen of Corman’s films, including “The Fast and the Furious” and “Five Guns West.”
Apart from acting, Haze also contributed behind the camera. He penned the screenplay for the 1962 science fiction comedy “Invasion of the Star Creatures” and worked as a production manager on several of Corman’s projects. Later in his career, he shifted to commercial production, developing advertisements for well-known brands such as United Airlines and Kool-Aid.
In a reflection on his work in “The Little Shop of Horrors,” Haze shared that the team’s goal had been to create an enjoyable film, with no expectations of it achieving a lasting cult following. “All the interior scenes in the movie were done in two days, they were like 20-hour days, and then we went out on the streets and did three nights with a second unit, with a totally different crew,” Haze recalled. “It was insane.”
Haze’s last film role was in the 2010 mystery “Nobody Smiling.” He was married to costume designer Roberta Keith from the mid-1960s until their divorce in 1981. He leaves behind his daughters Rebecca Haze and DD Haze, his grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
The legacy of Haze’s work continues to resonate in the world of cult cinema and B-movie history, influencing fans and adaptations even decades later. after its initial release.