Hollywood bids farewell to one of its most enduring icons, June Lockhart, the beloved actress best remembered for her warm, maternal roles in ‘Lassie’ and ‘Lost in Space’.
The Tony-winning star passed away on October 23 at her Santa Monica home, surrounded by her daughter June Elizabeth and granddaughter Christianna. She was 100.
Lockhart’s daughter shared a heartfelt tribute, saying, “Mommy always considered acting her craft, her vocation, but her heart truly belonged to journalism, politics, science and NASA. She was proud that Lost in Space inspired a generation of astronauts. That meant more to her than all the hundreds of roles she played.”
Born June 25, 1925, in New York City, Lockhart’s life was practically scripted for the stage. The daughter of actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, she made her first appearance at age eight in a 1933 Metropolitan Opera production of Peter Ibbetson. By 13, she was on screen as Belinda Cratchit in MGM’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ (1938), acting alongside her real-life parents.
Her career flourished under MGM’s golden spotlight, with memorable turns in ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ (1944), ‘She-Wolf of London’ (1946) and ‘Bury Me Dead’ (1947).
Yet it was television that made her a household name: first as Ruth Martin, the kindhearted mother in Lassie and later as Maureen Robinson, the unflappable space matriarch in Lost in Space.
Lockhart’s television credits spanned generations, from ‘Perry Mason’, ‘Bewitched’ and ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ to ‘Full House’, ‘Roseanne’, ‘7th Heaven’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.
Her screen presence bridged eras, making her one of the few performers whose career gracefully transitioned from Hollywood’s black-and-white era to the streaming age.
A lifelong advocate for science and exploration, Lockhart’s association with Lost in Space eventually led to real-world recognition from NASA, where she became an honorary spokesperson and a fixture at launches and astronaut events.
In 2013, the agency honored her with the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for inspiring public interest in space exploration.
Her stage legacy was equally remarkable. Lockhart’s 1947 Broadway debut in ‘For Love or Money’ earned her the first-ever Tony Award for Best Newcomer, which she later donated to the Smithsonian Institution.
In her century of life, Lockhart earned two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for film and another for television; a fitting tribute to an artist who spanned both worlds with grace and humility.
The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Actors Fund, ProPublica or International Hearing Dog, Inc.
