June Lockhart, TV’s Beloved Mother From ‘Lassie’ and ‘Lost in Space,’ Passes Away at 100
June Lockhart, the iconic actress who warmed hearts across generations through her motherly roles in Lassie and Lost in Space , has passed away at the remarkable age of 100. She died peacefully of natural causes at her home in Santa Monica, as confirmed by her longtime friend and family spokesman, Lyle Gregory.
Gregory shared that even in her final days, Lockhart remained spirited and deeply curious about the world. She reportedly read The New York Times and Los Angeles Times daily, keeping herself updated on the news of the day. “She was very happy up until the very end,” he said.
Born in New York City on June 25, 1925, June Lockhart seemed destined for a life in show business. Her parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, were both seasoned actors, and she made her first screen appearance as a child in the 1938 film A Christmas Carol , acting alongside them. It was an early hint of the enduring screen presence she would one day command.
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Her breakout came on television, where she embodied the kind of gentle strength and maternal warmth that made her unforgettable. From 1958 to 1964, she played Ruth Martin, the devoted mother raising the orphaned Timmy on CBS’s Lassie . Just a year later, she took on another legendary role — Maureen Robinson, the calm and courageous matriarch aboard the Jupiter II spacecraft in Lost in Space . These performances cemented her image as America’s quintessential TV mom.
Ironically, Lockhart often said she was nothing like her on-screen persona. In one interview, she laughed that she loved rock concerts, had driven Army tanks, and even tried gliding in planes without engines — adventures that didn’t exactly match her wholesome television image. “I can control my reputation, but not my image,” she once said, perfectly summing up the contrast between who she was and how audiences saw her.
Her career spanned far beyond her famous motherly roles. She appeared in classic films such as Meet Me in St. Louis , Sergeant York , and Adam Had Four Sons , and later took on roles in Petticoat Junction , General Hospital , and even voice work in the animated Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm .
Despite her long and varied career, Lockhart always remained gracious about being remembered for Lassie . “How wonderful that in a career there is one role for which you are known,” she once reflected. “Many actors work all their lives and never have one part that is really theirs.”
June Lockhart’s legacy isn’t just in the roles she played — it’s in the warmth, strength, and grace she brought to every performance. For millions who grew up watching her, she will forever remain the mother who made television feel a little more like home.
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