Beloved American actress June Lockhart, known for her iconic roles in Lassie and Lost in Space, has passed away at the age of 100.
Lockhart died of natural causes at her home in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday, according to family spokesperson Lyle Gregory, Sky News reports.
“She was very happy up until the very end, reading the New York Times and LA Times every day,” Gregory said. “It was very important to her to stay focused on the news of the day.”
Television icon: Lassie and Lost in Space
Lockhart became a household name for her role as Ruth Martin on Lassie, playing the caring mother who raised the orphaned Timmy (Jon Provost) from 1958 to 1964 over more than 200 episodes.
She later starred as Maureen Robinson on Lost in Space (1965–1968), portraying the matriarch of a marooned family aboard the spaceship Jupiter II for over 80 episodes.
Lockhart earned two Emmy nominations, including one for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work on Lassie in 1959. She was also honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing both her film and television careers.
Early life and film career
Born in New York City in 1925, June was the daughter of actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart. She made her feature film debut at just 13, starring alongside her parents in the 1938 adaptation of A Christmas Carol as Belinda Cratchit.
Lockhart went on to appear in films including All This, and Heaven Too, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Yearling, and Sergeant York. She also starred in Son of Lassie (1945), taking on the grown-up version of the role famously played by Elizabeth Taylor, per IMDb.
A career spanning eight decades
Over nearly 80 years, Lockhart appeared in dozens of television shows and films, continuing to work well into her 80s. She had recurring roles on Petticoat Junction, General Hospital, and Beverly Hills 90210, as well as guest appearances on The Beverly Hillbillies, The Colbys, Knots Landing, Happy Days, Full House, Roseanne, and Grey’s Anatomy.
Reflecting on her time on Lassie, Lockhart once noted (via Sky News): “I worked with four Lassies. There was only one main Lassie at a time. Then there was a dog that did the running, a dog that did the fighting, and a dog that was a stand-in, because only humans can work 14 hours a day without needing a nap. Lassie was not especially friendly with anybody. Lassie was wholly concentrated on the trainers.”
Despite her humorous criticisms, she acknowledged the significance of the role: “How wonderful that in a career there is one role for which you are known. Many actors work all their lives and never have one part that is really theirs.”
On Lost in Space, she fondly remembered the sense of adventure: “It was like going to work at Disneyland every day,” she said of portraying a family navigating space, alien encounters, and weekly cliffhangers.
Personal life
Lockhart was married and divorced twice. Her first marriage was to John Maloney, a physician, with whom she had two daughters, Anne Kathleen and June Elizabeth. She later married architect John C. Lindsay.
June Lockhart leaves behind a remarkable legacy as one of television’s most enduring and beloved actresses, remembered for her warmth, talent, and dedication to her craft.