June Lockhart, remembered as a defining presence in 1950s and 1960s television, passed away on October 23 in Santa Monica, California, Variety reported. She was 100. The beloved actor first became widely known for her role as Ruth Martin on the CBS series “Lassie,” where she played Timmyâs foster mother from 1958 to 1964.
Lockhart later earned one of her most beloved roles as Dr. Maureen Robinson on “Lost in Space” from 1965 to 1968, portraying a gifted biochemist and devoted mother facing the challenges of being marooned in space with her family.
(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)In a 2024 interview with Closer magazine, she reflected on her years on “Lost in Space” with affection. âIt was so campy,â she said. âAnd I truly enjoyed my relationship with my space family.â
Tributes Flood Social Media
A fan wrote: “June Lockhart was beautiful, talented & effortlessly cool, despite being the quintessence of a classic TV Mom. She passed away at the age of 100. My condolences to all who worked with her, especially Bill Mumy & Angela Cartwright.”
Another comment read: “Oh bless her. What a lovely lady. May she rest in peace â¤ï¸”
A third comment read: “Rip june Lockhart ð great actress and tv mom on timmy and lassie and lost in space”
A Career Spanning Nearly Eight Decades
Over the course of her long career, she appeared in dozens of television series, films, and stage productions. She continued acting well into her 80s.
Her credits included recurring roles on shows such as Petticoat Junction, General Hospital, and Beverly Hills, 90210, as well as guest appearances on The Beverly Hillbillies, Happy Days, Full House, Roseanne, and Greyâs Anatomy.
Early Life & Breakthrough in Film
Born in New York City in 1925 to actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, she made her feature film debut at age 13 in the 1939 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, appearing alongside both of her parents.
Her early film credits included All This and Heaven Too, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Yearling, and Sergeant York. Before her role in the Lassie series, she appeared in Son of Lassie as Priscilla, the Duke of Rudlingâs granddaughter.
Honors, Awards & Legacy
She received two Emmy nominations, including Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series for her work on Lassie. Her accomplishments earned her two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for film and one for television.
She was also honored with a Special Tony Award for her performance in For Love or Money in 1948.
A private service is planned. In lieu of flowers, her family encourages donations to The Actors Fund, ProPublica, or International Hearing Dog, Inc.
The post Beloved Star of Classic TV Shows Passes Away: Tributes Pour In appeared first on EntertainmentNow.