SANTA MONICA, Calif. (FN) — June Lockhart, the Emmy-nominated actress who became one of television’s most beloved maternal figures through her roles in Lassie and Lost in Space, has died. She was 100.
Lockhart died peacefully Thursday at her home in Santa Monica, California, her family confirmed. The cause was natural, relatives said in a statement shared with The Associated Press.
Born June 25, 1925, in New York City, Lockhart was practically destined for the screen. Her parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, were veteran actors who introduced her to Hollywood at an early age. She made her film debut as a teenager alongside them in the 1938 adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
Lockhart rose to fame in 1958 when she joined the hit television series Lassie as Ruth Martin, the compassionate farm mother raising a boy and his collie. Her portrayal of warmth, patience and quiet strength helped define the archetype of the American TV mom.
She later reached a new generation of viewers as Dr. Maureen Robinson in the 1960s science-fiction classic Lost in Space. The role cemented her place in pop culture and reflected her lifelong fascination with space exploration, a passion she carried into her public life through appearances at NASA events and science conventions.
Over a career spanning eight decades, Lockhart appeared in dozens of stage productions, feature films, and television shows, from Petticoat Junction to Grey’s Anatomy. Colleagues described her as sharp-witted, generous and endlessly curious about the world around her.
“June was elegance, intelligence, and grace personified,” her daughter, actress Anne Lockhart, said in a statement. “She loved every minute of storytelling — and she never stopped being a student of life.”
Former co-stars and industry peers also paid tribute to her enduring legacy. Bill Mumy, who played her son Will Robinson in Lost in Space, called her “the heart of our family on and off screen.”
Film historians hailed Lockhart as one of the last living links to Hollywood’s Golden Age. “Her career bridged the early studio era and the rise of modern television,” said media historian Leonard Maltin. “That continuity alone makes her extraordinary.”
Fans around the world mourned the passing of a woman whose screen presence defined both comfort and adventure. Many shared images and scenes from Lassie and Lost in Space on social media, recalling her calm authority and nurturing spirit.
Lockhart is survived by her daughters, Anne and Lizabeth, and several grandchildren.
A private family service will be held in Los Angeles, with a public memorial planned for a later date, the family said.
“She taught us that kindness and curiosity could coexist with strength,” her daughter added. “That’s the legacy she leaves behind.”
