June Lockhart, Star of ‘Lost in Space’ and ‘Lassie,’ Dies at 100
June Lockhart, a beloved television and film actor best known for her roles as the mother on “Lost in Space” and “Lassie,” has died at the age of 100. She passed away Thursday night of natural causes, with her daughter June Elizabeth and granddaughter Christianna at her side, according too People magazine.
Born in New York City in 1925, Lockhart came from a theatrical family – the daughter of actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart. She began her career remarkably early, appearing on stage at age eight in a Metropolitan Opera production of Peter Ibbetson and making her film debut in 1938’s A Christmas Carol as the daughter of Bob Cratchit.
Lockhart’s stage work included starring roles in For Love or Money (1947) and The Grand Prize (1955), earning her a special tony Award in 1948 for outstanding performance as a newcomer for For Love or Money.
She transitioned to television in 1949, with guest appearances on shows like Hallmark Hall of Fame, Shirley Temple’s Storybook, Wagon Train, and Gunsmoke. Over a career spanning nearly eight decades, Lockhart consistently worked in television, appearing in series including Petticoat Junction, General Hospital, Beverly Hills 90210, The Beverly Hillbillies, Happy Days, Full House, Roseanne, and Gray’s Anatomy.
Lockhart achieved widespread recognition for her role as Ruth Erickson on “Lassie” beginning in 1958, and later as Maureen Robinson, the matriarch of the Robinson family, on “Lost in Space” from 1965 to 1968.She revisited the role with a voice cameo in Netflix’s 2021 reboot of the series. She once told NPR in 2004 that viewers often credited “Lost in Space” with inspiring them to pursue careers in science, a sentiment she didn’t experience with her work on “Lassie.”
Lockhart received two Emmy nominations for her work, including one for best actress in a dramatic series for “Lassie.” She was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,one for film and one for television.
She was married to John F. Maloney in 1951, and they had two daughters, Anne and June Elizabeth, before divorcing in 1959.
Funeral services will be private. The family requests that donations be made to the Actors Fund, ProPublica, and International Hearing Dog Inc. in lieu of flowers.
