June Lockhart, Icon of ‘Lassie’ and ‘Lost in Space,’ Passes Away at 100
June Lockhart, the beloved actress best known for her iconic roles in ‘Lassie’ and ‘Lost in Space,’ has died, leaving behind a legacy of nearly nine decades of American entertainment history. She passed away at the age of 100 on natural causes at her home in Santa Monica, Calif., with her daughter, June Elizabeth, and granddaughter, Christianna, by her side, Fox News Digital has learned.
Lockhart was born on June 25, 1925, in New York City, where she made her stage debut at just 8 years old in the 1933 production of ‘Peter Ibbetson’ at the Metropolitan Opera House. By the age of 13, she had already appeared on the silver screen, joining her parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, in the 1938 adaptation of ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Her early career was marked by working alongside Hollywood legends, including Bette Davis and Charles Boyer. She earned acclaim as Lucille Ballard in the 1944 film ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ directed by Vincente Minnelli.
In 1947, Lockhart made her Broadway debut in ‘For Love or Money,’ earning the Tony Award — then known as the Antoinette Perry Award — for ‘Best Newcomer.’ She was the first-ever recipient of the honor, which was then presented with different awards for men and women. Her TONY medallion, the first ever given, was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 2008 and is now part of the museum’s permanent entertainment archives.
Lockhart’s warmth and grace translated perfectly into television. In the 1950s, she became a beloved matriarch in the 1950s series ‘Lassie,’ where she played the gentle, soft-voiced mom. By the 1960s, she took on the role of Maureen Robinson, the steadfast ‘space mom’ in ‘Lost in Space,’ a role she found intriguing for its portrayal of a family in space. She shared that the series was a ‘view of family dynamics of a marooned group of scientists and two children, and how they survived,’ and that she felt ‘great’ about being recognized as the favorite TV mom.
Beyond her television work, Lockhart also lent her voice to the cult favorite ‘Ren & Stimpy,’ showcasing her versatility and range. Her passion for science and space exploration led her to serve as a NASA spokesperson and to attend numerous launches and landings, sometimes standing beside astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. In 2013, NASA honored her with the ‘Exceptional Public Achievement Medal’ for her decades-long advocacy for space exploration. Her daughter noted that this honor meant more to her than any Hollywood accolade, as her true passions were journalism, politics, science, and NASA.
Lockhart’s life was also characterized by her father’s activism, as a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild in the 1930s. Her commitment to fair working conditions led her to join AFRA (later AFTRA) in 1938 and SAG in 1940. Her family shared that her energy and humor were ‘endless,’ with her engaging in various activities from singing onstage with Willie Nelson to attending White House press briefings dating back to the Eisenhower administration. Her legacy is a testament to a career that spanned entertainment and advocacy, all while inspiring generations in her unique way.