Wow! I thought she had died years ago. :-(


June Lockhart, 'Lost In Space' and 'Lassie' Star, Dies at 100
-------------------------------------------------------------
June Lockhart, a popular actress of the 1950s and '60s known for
her roles in "Lost In Space," "Lassie" and "Meet Me in St. Louis,"
died of natural causes on Oct. 23 in Santa Monica, Calif. She was
100.

Lockhart became known for her performances as Timmy's foster
mother, Ruth Martin, on the CBS series "Lassie" from 1958 to 1964.
She took over from Cloris Leachman as the Martin family moved on
to the famous collie's farm and became foster parents to both the
orphaned Timmy and Lassie.

She then starred as Dr. Maureen Robinson on the CBS series "Lost
in Space" from 1965 to 1968.?She played a brilliant biochemist and
loving mother of three who is marooned in space along with her
family.

"When I wasn't shooting Lassie, I became the mistress of Scrabble
with my hairdresser and the crew," she told Closer magazine in
2024. She also noted that "Lost in Space" was her favorite project.
"It was so campy," she said, "And I truly enjoyed my relationship
with my space family."

Over nearly eight decades on screen, Lockhart went on to appear in
dozens of series and movies well into her 80s, with recurring roles
on "Petticoat Junction," "General Hospital" "Beverly Hills 90210,"
and guest appearances on shows from "The Beverly Hillbillies" to
"Happy Days" to "Full House, "Roseanne" and "Gray's Anatomy."

The daughter of actor Gene Lockhart and actress Kathleen Lockhart,
she was born in New York City in 1925. She made her feature film
debut at 13 years old, starring alongside both of her parents in
Edwin L. Marin's 1939 "A Christmas Carol," where she played Belinda
Cratchit. After her breakout role, she appeared in films such as
"All This, and Heaven Too," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "The Yearling,"
and "Sergeant York."

Prior to the TV series, Lockhart appeared in the feature "Son of
Lassie" as Priscilla, the Duke of Rudling's granddaughter. In the
1950s, Lockhart guest-starred in several Western series such as
"Wagon Train," "Cimarron City," "Gunsmoke," "Have Gun - Will
Travel," and "Rawhide."

She was nominated for two Emmys, including Best Actress in a
Leading Role in a Dramatic Series for her performance in "Lassie."
She also received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for
motion pictures and one for television. Lockhart was previously the
recipient of a Special Tony Award for Outstanding Performance by a
Newcomer for her role on Broadway in "For Love or Money" in 1948.

A private service has been planned in her honor. Instead of sending
flowers, Lockhart's family suggests donating to The Actors Fund,
ProPublica and International Hearing Dog, Inc.



<https://variety.com/2025/film/news/june-lockhart-dead-lost-in-space-lassie-1236561320/>






--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

In article <10djkeb$3logf$1@dont-email.me>, YourName@YourISP.com wrote:

Lockhart became known for her performances as Timmy's foster
mother, Ruth Martin, on the CBS series "Lassie" from 1958 to 1964.
She took over from Cloris Leachman as the Martin family moved on
to the famous collie's farm and became foster parents to both the
orphaned Timmy and Lassie.

Did you know that when things were slow, they'd throw Timmy into a well
and then pretend to not understand what Lassie was trying to tell them?

--
Not a joke! Don't jump!


--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 26 Oct 2025 11:54:03 +1300, Your Name quoted:

She took over from Cloris Leachman as the Martin family moved on
to the famous collie's farm and became foster parents to both the
orphaned Timmy and Lassie.

Whaat?? You mean the actress (in)famous for those demonic villainesses,
Nurse Diesel and Frau Blucher, was once ... the loving foster mother of
Timmy and Lassie??!??

She then starred as Dr. Maureen Robinson on the CBS series "Lost
in Space" from 1965 to 1968.ÿShe played a brilliant biochemist and
loving mother of three who is marooned in space along with her
family.

I remember being highly bemused by that particular bit of casting-against-
type ... not that I recall her doing much biochemistry ...

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Lawrence DOliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:

On Sun, 26 Oct 2025 11:54:03 +1300, Your Name quoted:

She took over from Cloris Leachman as the Martin family moved on
to the famous collie's farm and became foster parents to both the
orphaned Timmy and Lassie.

Whaat?? You mean the actress (in)famous for those demonic villainesses, >Nurse Diesel and Frau Blucher, was once ... the loving foster mother of >Timmy and Lassie??!??

After the end of season 3, producers decided that they wanted a younger
boy. Jeff (Tommy Rettig) was fired, along with his family. It was the
most awkward transition possible. Timmy (Jon Provost) was taken in.
Gramps (George Cleveland) was killed off as the actor had died. Then the
Miller simply got written out. The audience was supposed to accept that
the Martins, Ruth and Paul, would simply take over the farm from the
Martins, who dumped both Timmy and the dog on them. Cloris Leachman and
Paul (Jon Shepodd) were there during a portion of season 4 only.

With the start of season 5, Ruth and Paul had been re-cast with the
better remembered June Lockhart and Hugh Reilly.

I don't know what the reason was.

I sure don't understand how audiences would have forgiven the Millers
for abandoning the dog.

Timmy wasn't just younger but oh so incredibly dumb. I've concluded that
it wasn't the actor's performance but scripts that just made Timmy
unlikeable, but he carried the show for 5 1/2 years, telling you that
audiences cared about the dog and not the humans. The audience didn't
give a shit if Timmy were rescued from that well, but wanted to see the
heroic dog, despite the futility of rescuing Timmy week after week
without Timmy ever learning to take care.

The Martins were fired after season 10 and there was no more farm.

She then starred as Dr. Maureen Robinson on the CBS series "Lost
in Space" from 1965 to 1968. She played a brilliant biochemist and
loving mother of three who is marooned in space along with her
family.

I remember being highly bemused by that particular bit of casting-against- >type ... not that I recall her doing much biochemistry ...

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)