June Lockhart, a popular actress of the 1950s and 1960s known for her roles in “Lost In Space,” “Lassie” and “Meet Me in St. Louis,” died Oct. 23 in Santa Monica, California. He was 100 years old.
June Lockhart died PHOTO: X
Lockhart died of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, family spokesman Lyle Gregory, a friend of 40 years, said Saturday.
“She was very happy until the end, reading the New York Times and the LA Times every day.”he said. “It was very important for her to stay focused on the news of the day.” writes Variety.
Lockhart became known for playing the role of Timmy’s adoptive mother, Ruth Martin, on the CBS series “Lassie”, which ran from 1958 to 1964. She took over the role from Cloris Leachman when the Martin family moved to the famous collie’s farm and became a foster parent to both the orphaned Timmy and Lassie.
She then played the role of Dr. Maureen Robinson on the CBS series “Lost in Space” from 1965 to 1968. She played the role of a brilliant biochemist and loving mother of three children who becomes stranded in space with her family.
“When I wasn’t filming Lassie, I was becoming a Scrabble champion with my hairdresser and crew”she told Closer magazine in 2024. She also mentioned that “Lost in Space” was her favorite project. “He was so eccentric”she said, “and I really enjoyed the relationship with my space family.”
During nearly eight decades on screen, Lockhart continued to appear in dozens of shows and movies into her 80s, with recurring roles on “Petticoat Junction,” “General Hospital,” “Beverly Hills 90210” and guest appearances on “The Beverly Hillbillies” to “Happy Days,” “Full House,” “Roseanne” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
The daughter of actor Gene Lockhart and actress Kathleen Lockhart, she was born in New York City in 1925. She made her feature film debut at age 13, starring opposite both parents in Edwin L. Marin’s 1939 film A Christmas Carol, where she played Belinda Cratchit. After the role that brought him fame, he appeared in films such as “All This, and Heaven Too”, “Meet Me in St. Louis”, “The Yearling” and “Sergeant York”.
Prior to the TV series, Lockhart appeared in the film Son of Lassie as Priscilla, the Duke of Rudling’s niece. In the 1950s, Lockhart starred in several westerns, including “Wagon Train,” “Cimarron City,” “Gunsmoke,” “Have Gun – Will Travel,” and “Rawhide.”
June Lockhart in Lassie PHOTO: X
She was nominated for two Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in “Lassie.” He also received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for movies and one for television. Lockhart previously received a special Tony Award for Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer for her role on Broadway in “For Love or Money” in 1948.
