<Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Gertrude Bregman (m . 1938; his death 2002) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Children </Th> <Td> Richard (born 1942) </Td> </Tr> <P> Jonathan Harris (born Jonathan Daniel Charasuchin; November 6, 1914--November 3, 2002) was an American character actor whose career included more than 500 television and movie appearances, as well as voiceovers . Two of his best - known roles were as the timid accountant Bradford Webster in the television version of The Third Man and the fussy villain Dr. Zachary Smith of the 1960s science fiction series Lost in Space . Near the end of his career, he provided voices for the animated features A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2 . </P> <P> The second of three children, Harris was born to a poor family on November 6, 1914, in the Bronx, New York City . His parents were Sam and Jennie Charasuchin, Russian Jewish immigrants who worked in Manhattan's garment district . His family resided in a six - tenant apartment complex . To raise money, his mother took in boarders, some of whom were given Jonathan's bed, relegating Jonathan to sleep on dining room chairs . From the age of 12, he worked as a pharmacy clerk . </P>

Who played dr. smith in the original lost in space