Jonathan Haze dead: Little Shop of Horrors star dies aged 95 as tributes flood in for actor

Haze's death comes just months after the passing of his frequent collaborator, director Roger Corman, who died in May at 98.

The Pittsburgh-born actor's career spanned five decades, with 41 roles to his name between 1954 and 2010. He was a mainstay in Corman's films, appearing in nearly 20 of the director's productions.

Haze's breakout role came in 1960 with The Little Shop of Horrors, where he played Seymour, a florist's assistant who grows a bloodthirsty plant named Audrey II. The film's iconic catchphrase, "Feed me, Seymour", became a cult favourite.

Speaking at a fan convention in 2001, Haze recalled the gruelling filming process: "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. It was insane."

RIP Jonathan Haze, 95, one of the stars of the original "Little Shop of Horrors" (1960) who worked many times with filmmaker Roger Corman. pic.twitter.com/dHKGK3akQ5

— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) November 5, 2024

Haze's collaboration with Corman began in 1954 when he was discovered working at a petrol station. He was cast in Monster from the Ocean Floor and The Fast and the Furious that same year.

Throughout his career, Haze appeared in numerous Corman films, including Apache Woman, Gunslinger, and Not of This Earth.

Tributes have poured in for Haze following the news of his passing. Filmmaker Elle Schneider shared a heartfelt message on social media, praising Haze's "dry wit" and expressing gratitude for their friendship.

Fans have also taken to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to honour the actor's contributions to cult cinema.

Haze's impact extended beyond acting. He wrote the screenplay for the 1962 science fiction comedy Invasion of the Star Creatures and worked as a production manager on various projects.

In addition to his film work, Haze made appearances on popular television shows such as Dragnet and 77 Sunset Strip.

The actor's versatility earned him a reputation as a chameleon. A 2011 Tumblr post described him as "a small, slight man with boyish good looks" who maintained "an overwhelming enthusiasm" for his projects.

Haze is survived by his daughters Rebecca and DD Haze, grandchildren Andre Bryant, Rocco Haze and Ruby Bryant, and a great-grandson, Sonny Haze.

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His legacy in cult cinema remains significant, with The Little Shop of Horrors inspiring an Off-Broadway musical in 1982 and a subsequent film adaptation in 1986 starring Rick Moranis.

Beyond acting, Haze had a long career producing commercials.

His final on-screen appearance was in the 2010 film Nobody Smiling.

Haze's versatility as an actor was noted by fans and critics alike, with one describing him as willing to "go for the gusto when it came to changing his posture and voice to create a new persona onscreen".

His contributions to B-movies and collaboration with Roger Corman have cemented his place in film history.