June Lockhart Dies at 100: Revisit Her Most Famous TV Roles
June Lockhart has died at age 100.
A Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen whose career began in the 1930s, Lockhart was one of the last survivors of the golden age of Hollywood. She was born in 1925 to Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, who were both actors. (Gene was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Algiers.) Her first film role was in A Christmas Carol, which starred her parents as the Cratchits; Lockhart played one of their children.
Lockhart’s long list of credits includes roles in movies such as Meet Me In St. Louis, Sergeant York, She-Wolf of London, and Troll and TV shows such as Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Bewitched, Perry Mason, Falcon Crest, Murder, She Wrote, and General Hospital. But Lockhart might be best known for playing the mom on the long-running series Lassie, as well as for starring in Petticoat Junction and Lost in Space.
Want to revisit some of June Lockhart’s most famous TV shows? Keep reading to find out how.
‘Lassie’
In 1958, Lockhart stepped in to replace Cloris Leachman as wife and mom Ruth Martin on Lassie. She appeared in more than 200 episodes of the beloved show and also received an Emmy nomination for playing Ruth.
“How wonderful that in a career there is one role for which you are known,” Lockhart said of Lassie (via ABC7). “Many actors work all their lives and never have one part that is really theirs.”
Unfortunately, Lassie is not currently available to stream, but you might be able to find DVDs containing select episodes of the show on Amazon.
‘Lost In Space’
From 1965 to 1968, Lockhart played scientist and homemaker Dr. Maureen Robinson on the sci-fi series Lost In Space. Inspired by Swiss Family Robinson, the show followed the Robinsons, a family who sets out to help colonize space in 1997.
“It was like going to work at Disneyland every day,” Lockhart said of her time on the show.
Lost In Space is available to purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.
One of Lockhart’s last roles came in 2021 when she had a voice cameo in an episode of Netflix’s Lost In Space remake.
‘Petticoat Junction’
After Lost In Space, Lockhart joined the cast of the rural-themed sitcom Petticoat Junction. In seasons 6 and 7, she played Dr. Janet Craig, the “lady doctor” who shakes things up when she arrives in the small town of Hooterville.
Petticoat Junction is streaming on Pluto TV.
‘Beverly Hills, 90210’
Lockhart worked consistently in TV for decades. One of her later roles came in Beverly Hills, 90210, where she played Donna Martin’s grandmother Celia Martin. Lockhart appeared in four episodes in season 7 and 8, including “A Ripe Young Age” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
Beverly Hills, 90210 is streaming on Paramount+.
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