June Lockhart, Beloved Mother of 'Lassie' and 'Lost in Space,' Dies at 100

**From left: Lassie, Jon Provost, Hugh Reilly and June Lockhart on ‘Lassie’ circa 1955** Credit : Silver Screen Collection/Getty

June Lockhart, the actress whose warm presence defined television motherhood for a generation, has died at the age of 100. Lockhart passed away peacefully of natural causes on October 23 at her home in Santa Monica, California, with her daughter and granddaughter by her side .

With a career that spanned nearly eight decades, Lockhart became a fixture in American pop culture, guiding her on-screen children through adventures on a farm and in the far reaches of space. Her passing marks the loss of a cherished link to Hollywood’s Golden Age.

A Life in the Spotlight: From Broadway to Hollywood

**June Lockhart for ‘Lost in Space’ in 1965** /Credit : CBS via Getty

Born on June 25, 1925, in New York City, June Lockhart was the daughter of actors Gene Lockhart and Kathleen Lockhart, performing arts royalty whose influence paved her path to the stage and screen . She made her professional debut at the Metropolitan Opera at just eight years old .

Her film debut came at age 13, appearing alongside her parents in MGM’s 1938 version of “A Christmas Carol,” where she played Belinda Cratchit to her father’s Bob Cratchit . This early role was the start of a prolific film career in the 1940s that included parts in classics like “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944), “Sergeant York” (1941), and “All This, and Heaven Too” (1940) alongside Bette Davis and Charles Boyer .

Lockhart successfully transitioned to Broadway after World War II, making a splash in the 1947 comedy “For Love or Money.” Her performance earned her a Special Tony Award for Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer, cementing her status as a serious actress in her own right, separate from her parents’ legacy .

The Quintessential Television Mother

**June Lockhart in 1948**/ Credit : Everett

It was on the small screen that June Lockhart became a household name, embodying nurturing, intelligent maternal figures for millions of viewers.

A Mother on the Farm: In 1958, she took on the role of Ruth Martin, the kind and steady mother to young Timmy (Jon Provost) on the CBS series “Lassie.” She replaced Cloris Leachman and made the role her own, portraying the matriarch for more than 200 episodes until 1964 and earning an Emmy nomination in 1959 . She once reflected that she initially turned down the part but later reconsidered, recognizing it as a “great gift” that offered dignity and stability for her family .
A Mother in Space: Shortly after her time on “Lassie” ended, Lockhart embarked on her most famous journey, playing Dr. Maureen Robinson, the brilliant scientist and mother on the CBS sci-fi adventure “Lost in Space” (1965-1968). As the resourceful matriarch of the space-faring Robinson family, she offered strength and reason while stranded in the cosmos with her children and a stowaway robot . She later shared that the series was her favorite project, calling it “campy” and cherishing her relationship with her “space family” .
A Mother in Hooterville: Lockhart continued her run on CBS by joining the cast of the sitcom “Petticoat Junction” as Dr. Janet Craig from 1968 to 1970, a role brought in to help fill the void left by the death of star Bea Benaderet .

A Lasting Career and Personal Passions

**The cast of ‘Lost in Space’ From left: Mark Goddard, June Lockhart, Billy Mumy, Angela Cartwright, Jonathan Harris and Marta Kristen. In back: Guy Williams** / Credit : Everett

Lockhart’s career extended far beyond her iconic mother roles. She remained a active presence on television for decades, with guest appearances on shows ranging from “The Drew Carey Show” and “Full House” to “Grey’s Anatomy” . She also had a cameo in the 1998 feature film adaptation of “Lost in Space” .

Her accolades were significant, including two Emmy nominations and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—one for motion pictures and one for television .

Away from the set, Lockhart’s interests were deep and varied. She was a lifelong supporter of animal welfare, serving as a national spokesperson for International Hearing Dog Inc. . Perhaps her most profound personal passion was for science and space exploration. She became a dedicated supporter of NASA, attending launches and anniversaries, and was awarded the space agency’s Exceptional Public Achievement Medal in 2013 for inspiring public interest in exploration .

Her daughter, June Elizabeth, shared that while acting was her craft, “her true passions were journalism, politics, science, and NASA” . “She cherished her time on ‘Lost in Space’ and was deeply moved that so many astronauts told her she inspired their dreams” .

Lockhart was married twice and had two daughters, Anne Lockhart and June Elizabeth. Her daughter Anne followed her into acting, and the two shared the screen on shows like “Magnum, P.I.” and in the 1986 film “Troll” .

The Enduring Legacy of June Lockhart

**June Lockhart in 2015**/ Credit : David Livingston/Getty

The family has announced that a private service will be held . In lieu of flowers, they have asked that donations be made to The Actors Fund, ProPublica, or International Hearing Dog, Inc. .

June Lockhart’s career created a rare and enduring bridge from classic Hollywood cinema to the golden age of television and beyond. For a generation of viewers who grew up with her, she represented an ideal of maternal strength, wisdom, and compassion. Whether tending to a collie on a farm or navigating the stars with her family, June Lockhart was a steady and beloved guide, a face of American television that will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.