Article
June Lockhart, Iconic Star of 'Lassie' and 'Lost in Space', Passes Away Peacefully at 100
Summary
June Lockhart, beloved for her roles in Lassie and Lost in Space, died peacefully at 100. Her legacy spans decades of television, stage, and advocacy for science and space exploration.
June Lockhart, a television institution in America, passed away peacefully at her home in Santa Monica at the age of 100. Known for portraying benevolent characters in hit series like Lassie and Lost in Space, Lockhart became a symbol of maternal love and fortitude on television.
Lockhart was born on June 25, 1925, in New York City. She began acting at the age of eight when she played in Peter Ibbetson at the Metropolitan Opera House. She started working in the world of films in 1938's A Christmas Carol, with whom she shared screen space with her actor parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart.
Her first major television character was Ruth Martin on Lassie, then Maureen Robinson on Lost in Space, where she acted as a futuristic mom traveling through space. She also acted as Dr. Janet Craig on Petticoat Junction, further establishing herself as television's quintessential mom.
In addition to performing, Lockhart was interested in science and space exploration. She was a constant supporter of NASA and went to events with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Her daughter, June Elizabeth, explained that Lockhart's impact was not limited to the entertainment industry, but encouraged scientists and astronauts of the future.
Lockhart's career spanned stage, screen, and television, for which she received a Tony Award in 1947 for her contribution to For Love or Money. Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she lived and touched both on and off camera.