Robert H. Harris

Robert H. Harris

As Jake Goldberg, 1954.
Born Robert H. Hurwitz
(1911-07-15)July 15, 1911
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Died November 30, 1981(1981-11-30) (aged 70)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names Robert Harris
Years active 1950–1977
Spouse(s) Louise Lewis
Viola Harris (?–1981)

Robert H. Harris (born Robert H. Hurwitz, July 15, 1911 – November 30, 1981) was an American character actor.

Stage

A veteran of the Yiddish Art Theater from his teens,[1] Harris made his first Broadway appearance in 1937 in Schoolhouse on the Lot. His other Broadway credits include Xmas in Las Vegas (1965), Minor Miracle (1965), Foxy (1963), Look, Ma, I'm Dancin'! (1947) and Brooklyn, U.S.A. (1941).[2]

In 1952, Harris was the managing director of the Woodstock Playhouse in Woodstock, New York. Prior to that, he had directed repertory theatera in Boston and Hollywood.[3]

Television

From 1950 on, he appeared extensively on television series, specializing in playing shady, if not outright evil, characters. From 1953–1956 he played Jake Goldberg in The Goldbergs, one of his few sympathetic roles. (His obituary distributed via United Press International says that he played the role of Jake Goldberg in 1953-1954.)[1] In 1957, Harris played the lead role in The Court of Last Resort.

He also made many guest appearances in many other TV series. These include eight appearances in Alfred Hitchcock Presents between 1956–1961 and seven appearances in Perry Mason between 1958–1965. Among his seven appearances, he played the murderer three times, the murder victim once, and defendant once. He also appeared in other television series such as 77 Sunset Strip, Ben Casey, The Asphalt Jungle, and Rawhide.

Film

He starred in the 1958 B-movie horror film How to Make a Monster and had notable appearances as a rich cuckold in Elia Kazan's 1963 film America America, and Edward Dmytryk's 1965 film Mirage, as the obsessive-compulsive consulting psychiatrist. His other film credits included roles in Bundle of Joy (1956), The Invisible Boy (1957), Peyton Place (1957), The George Raft Story (1961), Apache Uprising (1965), Valley of the Dolls (1967), How Awful About Allan (1970), The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972) and The Man in the Glass Booth (1975).

Personal life

Harris and his wife, actress Viola Harris, had a son, Steven Lee.[3]

Death

Harris died November 30, 1981, and was buried December 3, 1981. He was survived by his wife, Viola Harris, a son, a daughter, a brother and two sisters.[1]

Series in detail

Appearances in Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Appearances in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

Appearance in Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea

Appearances in Perry Mason

Appearances in Gunsmoke

Appearances in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Appearances in The Untouchables

Appearances in Suspense

Appearances in Climax!

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Actor Robert Harris dead at 70". The Galveston Daily News. Texas, Galveston. United Press International. December 4, 1981. p. 14. Retrieved November 8, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "("Robert H. Harris" search results)". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 "TV Actor Is New Playhouse Head". The Kingston Daily Freeman. New York, Kingston. April 28, 1952. p. 11. Retrieved November 9, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
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