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MarineCombatEngineer

(17,577 posts)
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 02:51 PM Oct 25

June Lockhart, warmhearted star of 'Lassie' and 'Lost in Space,' dies at 100

June Lockhart, an actress who debuted at 8 with the Metropolitan Opera, won a Tony Award at 22 for her Broadway performance as a winsome ingénue and had a long career on television, notably starring as warmhearted matriarchs opposite a collie in “Lassie” and a robot on “Lost in Space,” died Oct. 23 at her home in Santa Monica. She was 100.

Her family announced the death in a statement Saturday but did not cite a specific cause.

Ms. Lockhart became a dominant television star of the 1960s with her performances on “Lassie” and “Lost in Space” as well as the rural sitcom “Petticoat Junction.” During a versatile career spanning more than eight decades, she also earned guest spots on westerns, melodramas, soap operas and game shows. Ms. Lockhart once joked that she did everything but fly on a trapeze.

The daughter of stage and screen character actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, she was 12 when she bowed on-screen with her parents as Belinda Cratchit in the 1938 film version of “A Christmas Carol.”


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/june-lockhart-warmhearted-star-of-lassie-and-lost-in-space-dies-at-100/ar-AA1PbmMf?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=68fd29523a2543d28b7f683f24438e6b&ei=12

I grew up watching these shows.

I didn't even know she was still alive.
RIP June.
49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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June Lockhart, warmhearted star of 'Lassie' and 'Lost in Space,' dies at 100 (Original Post) MarineCombatEngineer Oct 25 OP
When I was a kid I thought she was so pretty. I was right image fromfrom twitter irisblue Oct 25 #1
LOVE this photo! calimary Oct 25 #30
I hope she had a good life mcar Oct 25 #2
I had paper dolls of Petticoat Junction Tree Lady Oct 25 #3
Petticoat Junction? MarineCombatEngineer Oct 25 #5
Found this online Tree Lady Oct 25 #12
My sisters were into Petticoat Junction also, MarineCombatEngineer Oct 25 #14
lol I also used my dads belt as reins Tree Lady Oct 25 #22
Love this! My grandma used to give me the McCall paper doll pages! MerryBlooms Oct 25 #32
"... here's a lady MD, she's as pretty as can be, at the Junction. Petticoat Junction!" calimary Oct 26 #48
In memorium .... anciano Oct 25 #4
Bon Voyage, Dr. Robinson gulliver Oct 25 #6
One of my favorite sayings: MarineCombatEngineer Oct 25 #9
She was also on Babylon 5 with him BeyondTheVeilJack Oct 26 #47
love her!!! WarGamer Oct 25 #7
R.I.P. June. RubyRose Oct 25 #8
... littlemissmartypants Oct 25 #10
I remember watching "Lassie" now and then Warpy Oct 25 #11
The myth: The iconic image of Timmy needing to be rescued from a well is a piece of television lore, twodogsbarking Oct 25 #13
I sure wished she could have been mine. BattleRow Oct 25 #16
Right, it was Timmy's friends who fell down wells Warpy Oct 25 #18
My (nearly) favorite cartoon of all time PCIntern Oct 25 #19
LOL. MarineCombatEngineer Oct 25 #21
She would have LOVED that cartoon! calimary Oct 25 #26
Are you saying you knew Ann Lockhart? Aristus Oct 25 #31
Yep. Annie. My still best-friend. calimary Oct 26 #42
Just sent this cartoon to my sons, daughters, grandchildren, MarineCombatEngineer Oct 25 #35
I remember her from "Lassie". May she rest in peace. LoisB Oct 25 #15
Sad to hear. GreenWave Oct 25 #17
Wow! 100 years old! And it sounds like she lived a full life... slightlv Oct 25 #20
RIP Ms. Lockhart Trailrider1951 Oct 25 #23
Barbara Billingsley (aka June Cleaver) played the "Jive Lady" in Airplane! Beartracks Oct 25 #25
Yes, Ms. Billingsley Trailrider1951 Oct 25 #37
That was a hilarious scene, MarineCombatEngineer Oct 25 #41
You're probably thinking of Barbara Billingsley MarineCombatEngineer Oct 25 #29
Yes, thanks! Trailrider1951 Oct 25 #36
"" AllaN01Bear Oct 25 #24
Sad news 😪 Raine Oct 25 #27
lovely lady Skittles Oct 25 #28
Icon. 🥰🥰🥰 MerryBlooms Oct 25 #33
Cloris Leachman was also on Lassie. Also another big fave of mine MerryBlooms Oct 25 #34
I loved her especially as Dr. Craig on Petticoat Junction! BlueKota Oct 25 #38
Rest in peace June MustLoveBeagles Oct 25 #39
RIP. area51 Oct 25 #40
"A rock and roll gal" Chemical Bill Oct 26 #43
Wow. progressoid Oct 26 #46
Shit! I was there for that. calimary Oct 26 #49
Some Lassie episodes are hard to watch. Sad things that are really well presented. The first three seasons (before June) twodogsbarking Oct 26 #44
June... Clouds Passing Oct 26 #45

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,577 posts)
5. Petticoat Junction?
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 03:09 PM
Oct 25

I had forgotten all about that show for decades, ah, the trip down memory lane.

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,577 posts)
14. My sisters were into Petticoat Junction also,
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 03:38 PM
Oct 25

they had all the merch. that was offered back then while we boys played cops and robbers with our badges, cap guns, hats, etc.

I do miss being a kid, not a worry in the world back then.

Tree Lady

(12,977 posts)
22. lol I also used my dads belt as reins
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 05:02 PM
Oct 25

And rode my bike no hands as my horse. Those were the days!

We had so much imagination in our play. And we were outside a lot.

calimary

(88,912 posts)
48. "... here's a lady MD, she's as pretty as can be, at the Junction. Petticoat Junction!"
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 04:55 PM
Oct 26

She was never out of work for long. Taught me a lot about resilience.

gulliver

(13,702 posts)
6. Bon Voyage, Dr. Robinson
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 03:09 PM
Oct 25

...and so many other roles. I wanted to be just like Will, like a lot of kids.

47. She was also on Babylon 5 with him
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 03:08 PM
Oct 26

She was in one episode of Babylon 5, the series where Billy Mummy (Will) played an alien.

Warpy

(114,370 posts)
11. I remember watching "Lassie" now and then
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 03:28 PM
Oct 25

and wondering why Timmy couldn't seem to learn to stay away from old wells and cliffs. Lockhart always seemed to be drying dishes, which I guess is what a lot of married women did between getting meals on the table. My own mother just left them in the drainer and said "let god dry 'em," which seemed infinitely more sensible to me. At least June Lockhart didn't wear pearls and heels while doing it.

She had a good run, 100 is a very respectable age to achieve. I hope her later years were good and her passing easy.

Thanks and RIP, Ms.. Lockhart.

twodogsbarking

(17,515 posts)
13. The myth: The iconic image of Timmy needing to be rescued from a well is a piece of television lore,
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 03:36 PM
Oct 25

not a plot point from the show. But hey, we'll all miss June. She was the mother that many wished they had.
:

Warpy

(114,370 posts)
18. Right, it was Timmy's friends who fell down wells
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 04:12 PM
Oct 25

I do remember that much, I was just shorthanding it. Timmy did seem to be a little slow at learning things.

You're right about June being the better TV mom. Producers, directors, and writers (all male) really didn't know what to do with women back then.

calimary

(88,912 posts)
26. She would have LOVED that cartoon!
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 05:27 PM
Oct 25

Knew her well, back in the day. Her daughters and I were in the same elementary school.

Shit - I remember playing the lead in this little school play called “Bookworms Don’t Have to Bite.” We had one more performance added, for the head nun AND for June, who was tied up in filming during the other days. But by Jove she found time to drive back over to see the school play. I remember feeling a little bit intimidated having her in the audience. “Hey, I’m just here because my name is the same as the lead character!” But she was very supportive and kind as could be!

calimary

(88,912 posts)
42. Yep. Annie. My still best-friend.
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 01:17 AM
Oct 26

Don't know what I'd do if she weren't in my life. And her mom was such a cool lady. June helped me get started in my career. I'll never forget the day, after I'd started working, that she turned to me and said in a very serious but loving voice: "we're colleagues now." BOY OH BOY was that a moment!

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,577 posts)
35. Just sent this cartoon to my sons, daughters, grandchildren,
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 06:30 PM
Oct 25

all of whom are loyal Democrats.

Great toon PCIntern.

slightlv

(7,414 posts)
20. Wow! 100 years old! And it sounds like she lived a full life...
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 04:49 PM
Oct 25

I love her comment that Acting is what I do... it's not who I am. Meanwhile, she was a spokeswoman for the Hearing Dog corporation, which trained dogs to assist the hearing impaired. Notice how many good people we've lost that it wasn't until we lost them we discover how into helping and rescuing animals they were?

I always liked June Lockhart and how she played the roles she was given. RIP. You will be missed!

Trailrider1951

(3,561 posts)
23. RIP Ms. Lockhart
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 05:07 PM
Oct 25


I remember her in Lassie, I watched that show when I was a child. Also later in Lost in Space. Wasn't she also in Airplane?

Beartracks

(14,335 posts)
25. Barbara Billingsley (aka June Cleaver) played the "Jive Lady" in Airplane!
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 05:18 PM
Oct 25


==================

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,577 posts)
41. That was a hilarious scene,
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 11:33 PM
Oct 25

but, in this current climate, this couldn't be made, even if, like this is, satire meant not be taken seriously.
This movie, Blazing Saddles, would also fall under what I said:
IMHO, I think this is the funniest scene in the movie and I don't take umbrage at the language used because I know it's all satire.

progressoid

(52,519 posts)
46. Wow.
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 01:25 PM
Oct 26

That's...

“I swear to God she lives for rock and roll,” he said. “In the ‘80s, she carried a picture of one person in her wallet, and it was David Bowie. In 1967, she hired the Allman Brothers band, which was at the time called the Hourglass, to come play a party at her house. She took me and Angela Cartwright to the Whisky A-Go-Go in the summer of love to hang out with the Allman Brothers band up at the Whisky A-Go-Go. She’s a character. And she is a rock and roll gal, that’s all I can say about it.”

calimary

(88,912 posts)
49. Shit! I was there for that.
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 05:02 PM
Oct 26

I remember the band, playing in that big downstairs indoor “patio”. We were too busy being young goofs and not paying much attention. Who knew what they’d become? (Certainly not us!)

Great party. They ALL were great parties if June was involved. Rest in Peace, dear lady.

twodogsbarking

(17,515 posts)
44. Some Lassie episodes are hard to watch. Sad things that are really well presented. The first three seasons (before June)
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 10:36 AM
Oct 26

had some real tear jerkers. Bye June. A lot of people loved you. You won.

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