June Lockhart, the soft-spoken actress known for her warm, maternal roles on television classics Lassie and Lost in Space, died of natural causes on Thursday at her home in Santa Monica, California.
She died at the age of 100.
Her death was announced by her spokesman, Harlan Boll, and her daughter June Elizabeth and granddaughter Christianna were by her side, as per New York Times report.
Early Life
June Kathleen Lockhart was born on June 25, 1925, in Manhattan. She was the only child of actors Gene Lockhart and Kathleen Lockhart, who guided her early career in prestigious stage and film projects.
She made her first stage appearance at the age of 8 in a Metropolitan Opera production and debuted in films at 13 in the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol.
Lockhart made her Broadway debut at 22 in For Love or Money, earning a Tony Award for Best Newcomer and the Theater World Award. She appeared in classic films such as Meet Me in St. Louis (1945) with Judy Garland, Sergeant York (1941) with Gary Cooper, and All This, and Heaven Too (1940) with Bette Davis.
Television Stardom
Lockhart gained wide fame on television, first joining Lassie in 1958 as Ruth Martin, the farm wife and foster mother to Jon Provost’s character. In 1965, she starred in Lost in Space as the mother and interplanetary explorer, alongside the famous robot and Bill Mumy’s character. The show became a cult classic despite its campy style and low-budget production.
After Lost in Space ended in 1968, Lockhart joined Petticoat Junction and later appeared on General Hospital starting in 1984. She continued guest roles on TV and acted in films such as Strange Invaders (1983) and Sleep With Me (1994). Her last roles included voice work in Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm (2019) and the 2021 Netflix reboot of Lost in Space, as per New York Times report.
Personal Life
Lockhart married Dr John F Maloney in 1951 and had two daughters. The couple divorced in 1959.
She was briefly married to architect John Lindsay. She is survived by her daughter June Elizabeth and granddaughter Christianna.
June Lockhart’s career spanned nearly nine decades across stage, film, and television.