June Lockhart, who became a mother figure to a generation of television viewers, whether at home in Girl or in the stratosphere in Lost in spacehas deceased. she was 100.
Lockhart deceased Thursday of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, family spokesman Lyle Gregory, a friend of 40 years, said Saturday.
“She was very happy until the end, reading the New York Times and LA Times every day,” she said, “it was very important for her to stay focused on the news of the day.”
The daughter of prolific character actor Gene Lockhart, Lockhart was frequently cast in naïve roles as a young film actor. Television made her a star.
From 1958 to 1964 she played Ruth Martin, who raised the orphan Timmy (Jon Provost), on the popular CBS series. Girl.
From 1965 to 1968, she traveled aboard the Jupiter II spacecraft as the mother of the Robinson family on the campy CBS adventure. Lost in space.
Her portrayals of warm, compassionate mothers endeared her to young viewers, and decades later, baby boomers flocked to nostalgia conventions to meet Lockhart and buy autographed photographs from her.
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Off screen, Lockhart insisted, she looked nothing like the women she portrayed.
“I must quote Dan Rather,” he said in a 1994 interview, “I can control my reputation, but I can’t control my image, because my image is how you see me.
“I love rock ‘n’ roll and going to concerts. I’ve driven military tanks and flown in hot air balloons. And I fly in airplanes without an engine. I do a lot of things that don’t fit my image.”
Early in his career, Lockhart appeared in numerous films. Among them: All this and heaven too, Adam had four children, Sergeant York, Miss Annie Rooney, Forever and a day and Find me in San Luis.
she also did lassie’s sonthe 1945 sequel to Lassie, come homeplaying the adult version of the role created by Elizabeth Taylor.
New life on television
When her adult film career failed, Lockhart moved into television, appearing in live-from-New York dramas and on talk and game shows.
She was the third actress to play the female lead in Girl on television, following Jan Clayton and Cloris Leachman. (Provost had replaced the show’s original child star, Tommy Rettig, in 1957.)
Lockhart spoke candidly about her canine co-star: “I worked with four Lassies. There was only one main Lassie at a time. Then there was a running dog, a fighting dog, and a stand-in dog, because only humans can work 14 hours a day without needing a nap.
“Lassie wasn’t particularly friendly to anyone. Lassie was totally focused on the sneakers.”
After six years in the rural environment of GirlLockhart moved to outer space and took on the role of Maureen Robinson, the wise and reassuring mother who embarks on a five-year flight to a distant planet in Lost in space.
After their mission is sabotaged by a fellow traveler, the infamous Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), the group jumps from planet to planet, encountering strange creatures and near-disasters that required viewers to tune in next week to learn of the escape. Throughout the three years, Mrs. Robinson offered comfort and a slice of her “space pie.”
as with GirlLockhart enjoyed working on Lost in space: “It was like going to work at Disneyland every day.”
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“So smart, fast and funny – she filled her 100 years with curiosity, laughter and rock ‘n’ roll,” said Angela Cartwright, who played her daughter in Lost in space posted on Facebook. “I can only imagine that he will feel right at home as he leaves this planet and heads to the stars.”
Bill Mumy, who played her son in the film, posted on social media: “A unique, talented, loving, adventurous and uncompromising lady. She did it her way. June will always be one of my favorite moms.”
In 1968, Lockhart joined the cast of petticoat binding for the final two seasons of the rural comedy, playing Dr. Janet Craig.
a little of everything
Lockhart remained active long after Lost in spaceoften appearing in television episodes, as well as recurring roles on the daytime soap opera. general hospital and night soaps, Knot landing and The Colbys. His film credits included The new version and the animated Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythmfor which she lent her voice to Mindy the Owl.
He also used his own media pass to attend presidential press conferences, narrated beauty pageants and Christmas pageants, and toured in plays. steel magnolias, bedroom farceetc Once again with feeling.
We know what you’re thinking but this isn’t her.
“His true passion was journalism,” Gregory said, “he loved going to the White House briefing rooms.”
Lockhart liked to tell the story of how his parents met, saying they were hired separately for a touring production sponsored by inventor Thomas A. Edison and decided to get married during a stop in Lake Louise, Alberta.
Their daughter was born on June 25, 1925 in New York City. The family moved to Hollywood 10 years later and Gene Lockhart worked steadily as a character actor, usually in paternal roles, sometimes as a villain. His wife, Kathleen, often appeared with him.
Young June made her theatrical debut at age eight, dancing in a children’s ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House. His first film appearance was a small role in the 1938 film. A Christmas storyplaying the daughter of Bob Cratchit and his wife, who were played by her parents.
She was married and divorced twice: to John Maloney, a doctor, father of her daughters Anne Kathleen and June Elizabeth; and architect John C. Lindsay.
Throughout her later career, Lockhart was connected in the public mind with Girl.
Although he sometimes mocked the show, he admitted, “How wonderful that in a career there is a role that you are known for. Many actors work their entire lives and never have a role that is truly theirs.”
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Bob Thomas, a longtime Associated Press journalist who died in 2014, was the lead author of this obituary.
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