Why was Jonathan Harris listed as a special guest star on Lost in Space?

The American character actor Jonathan Harris, who has died aged 87, was the camply menacing space stowaway and spy Dr Zachary Smith in the CBS science-fiction television series Lost In Space (1965-68), in which he got himself credited as “special guest star” to overcome the indignity of being billed last.

Why do shows say special guest star?

In most cases, “special guest star” credits are a contractually agreed upon credit that is used to designate that the actor in question is somehow more important or more valuable to the show than a standard guest star. Like other have said this is mostly a contractual arrangement between the actor and the TV series.

Why are actors called special guest stars?

It’s simply a standard term in television — the name of the contract under which guest actors work. Small roles are co-stars and pay a certain amount, guest stars are generally larger and pay more.

What happened to Jonathan Harris from Lost in Space?

Death and posthumous tributes On November 3, 2002, he died of a blood clot to the heart, just three days before his 88th birthday. Harris was interred in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, in Westwood Village, in Los Angeles.

Is Smith dead Lost In Space?

Smith, doesn’t die. Smith doesn’t get off scot-free or anything, but it’s easy to squint and imagine a future when she gets out of jail and starts mixing things up on Alpha Centauri. Lost in Space Season 3 is streaming now on Netflix.

What’s the difference between special guest star and guest star?

In performance art, the terms guest role or guest star are also common, the latter term specifically indicating the guest appearance of a celebrity. The latter is often also credited as special guest star or special musical guest star by some production companies.

Who is the special guest?

noun. A (typically well-known) person who is invited to perform or appear at an event or on a television or radio show.

Who is special guest?

A (typically well-known) person who is invited to perform or appear at an event or on a television or radio show.

What does credited only mean?

(credit only)Someone is credited, but did no work – this is most common for a TV series, where a regular cast member does not appear in a particular episode. This is distinct from (scenes deleted), in that there were no actual scenes filmed.

Is Smith dead lost in space?

Is Scarecrow dead Lost In Space?

The SAR then tortures Scarecrow to death, using Scarecrow to connect to Robot and show them via the Alien Engine’s star map that their parents are in danger. SAR then snaps Scarecrow’s neck, killing him which is sensed by Robot and Will realizes from Robot’s distraught reaction that Scarecrow is dead.

What happened to the guy from lost in space?

Two months before the reunion TV movie Lost in Space: The Journey Home was set to film, Harris was taken to the hospital with what he thought was a back problem. On November 3, 2002, Harris died of a blood clot to the heart. He was 87 years old, just three days before his 88th birthday.

Who played Dr Smith in lost in space forever?

Harris reprised his role as Dr. Smith in the one-hour television special Lost in Space Forever, and Harris and the rest of the surviving television cast appeared on the inside cover of an issue of TV Guide.

What are some of the lost in space reunion appearances?

Lost in Space reunion appearances. On June 14, 1995, Harris and other cast members appeared in The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen, a television tribute to Irwin Allen, the creator of Lost in Space, who had died in 1991. Harris refused to make a cameo appearance in the 1998 motion picture version of Lost in Space,…

Why was Doctor Smith originally credited as a guest star?

When Doctor Smith was added, the original intent was for him to be in the first few episodes as a saboteur and bad guy, but that they’d kill him off or he’d end up left behind or something like that. That’s why he was originally credited as “Special Guest Star.”