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June Lockhart, the popular actress best known for her iconic roles in “Lassie” and “Lost in Space,” has died. She was 100.
Lockhart died of natural causes at her home in Santa Monica, California, with her daughter June Elizabeth and granddaughter Christianna, Fox News Digital has learned.
“Iconic and legendary stage and screen actress June Lockhart dies, leaving behind a legacy spanning nearly 90 years American entertainment history“said her spokesman.
Lockhart was born New York City on June 25, 1925. She made her stage debut in 1933 at just 8 years old in the Metropolitan Opera House’s production of “Peter Ibbetson.” By the age of 13, she was already appearing on screen alongside her parents Gene and Kathleen Lockhart in MGM’s 1938 adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.”
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Legendary television actress June Lockhart has died aged 100. (Getty Images)
She quickly shared scenes with Hollywood legends, appearing in All This and Heaven Too with Bette Davis and Charles Boyer and playing Rosie, the sister of Gary Cooper’s character in 1941’s Sergeant York, directed by Howard Hawks.
At 19, Lockhart was signed to MGM and gained critical acclaim as Lucille Ballard in Meet Me in St. Louis, directed by Vincente Minnelli.
In 1947, Lockhart made her Broadway debut in “For Love or Money” and received a TONY Award – then called the Antoinette Perry Award – for “Best Newcomer.” She made history as the first recipient of this award. Back then, the American Theater Wing gave lighters to men and small gold medallions to women.
In the 1950s, she won hearts as a gentle, soft-spoken mother in “Lassie.” (Getty Images)
Lockhart’s own medallion – the first TONY ever presented – was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 2008, where it remains part of the museum’s permanent entertainment archive.
Lockhart’s warmth and grace translated perfectly to television, where she became one of America’s most beloved matriarchs.
In the 1950s, she captured hearts as a gentle, soft-spoken mother in Lassie, often working from scripts written during the Red Scare by blacklisted writers. In the 1960s, she bravely made her way from the family farm to the stars, portraying Maureen Robinson – the stalwart “space mom” in “Lost in Space.”
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“The premise of the series [intrigued me]” Lockhart told Fox News Digital in September 2024 about her involvement in “Lost in Space.”
“It was a look at the family dynamics of a stranded group of scientists and two children and how they survived,” she shared. “It was ‘Space Family Robinson’, a play on ‘Swiss Family Robinson’.” . . . Each of my colleagues was a wonderful professional. It was a very happy set with lots of laughter and real affection between us.”
Pictured is June Lockhart, who portrays Ruth Martin on the CBS series Lassie. 1964. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Lockhart also told Fox News Digital it’s “great” that many still recognize her as their favorite TV mom.
Despite having a secret rebellious side on set, she has always prided herself on her squeaky clean image. She’s never been tempted to take on a sexy role in Hollywood, nor has she ever felt pressured to look a certain way over the years.
“I wasn’t offered these parts,” she said. “[And] I always eat carefully. . . You better be in shape in that silver spacesuit.
She later appeared as Dr. Janet Craig appeared on “Petticoat Junction” and even lent her voice to Nickelodeon’s cult favorite “Ren & Stimpy,” showcasing her range and humor across generations.
While Lockhart shined on screen, her passion extended far beyond Hollywood. With two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – and five total for the Lockhart family – she also became a beloved figure in the space community.
American animal actor Baby as Lassie, actress June Lockhart as Ruth Martin and Jon Provost as Timmy reading the book “Lassie” for the television series of the same name, 1960. ((Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images))
A lifelong science enthusiast, she served as NASA spokesperson and took part in countless launches and landings, often alongside astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
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In 2013, NASA honored her with the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal, recognizing her decades of commitment to Space exploration. Her daughter June Elizabeth said the honor meant more to her than any Hollywood award.
“Mom always viewed acting as her craft, her calling, but her true passions were journalism, politics, science and NASA,” her daughter shared. “She loved playing her role in ‘Lost in Space’ and was pleased to learn that she inspired many future astronauts as they would remember her during visits to NASA. That meant even more to her than the hundreds of television and film roles she played.”
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Astronauts even carried her father’s 1921 composition “The World Waits for Sunrise” aboard the International Space Station.
Her father’s activism – as a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild in the 1930s – also shaped her lifelong belief in fair working conditions. Lockhart joined AFRA (later AFTRA) in 1938 and SAG in 1940, ultimately receiving the guild’s prestigious Founders Award in 2018.
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Her spirit of adventure never waned. Encouraged by her dear friend, architect and environmentalist Harry Gessner, Lockhart took advantage of every opportunity life offered – starting with singing on stage Willie Nelson to attend White House press conferences dating back to the Eisenhower administration.
Her family said her energy and humor were “endless.”
Stephanie Nolasco of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
