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MarineCombatEngineer

(16,372 posts)
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 03:51 PM Saturday

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 Saturday OP
When I was a kid I thought she was so pretty. I was right image fromfrom twitter irisblue Saturday #1
LOVE this photo! calimary Saturday #30
I hope she had a good life mcar Saturday #2
I had paper dolls of Petticoat Junction Tree Lady Saturday #3
Petticoat Junction? MarineCombatEngineer Saturday #5
Found this online Tree Lady Saturday #12
My sisters were into Petticoat Junction also, MarineCombatEngineer Saturday #14
lol I also used my dads belt as reins Tree Lady Saturday #22
Love this! My grandma used to give me the McCall paper doll pages! MerryBlooms Saturday #32
"... here's a lady MD, she's as pretty as can be, at the Junction. Petticoat Junction!" calimary Sunday #48
In memorium .... anciano Saturday #4
Bon Voyage, Dr. Robinson gulliver Saturday #6
One of my favorite sayings: MarineCombatEngineer Saturday #9
She was also on Babylon 5 with him BeyondTheVeilJack Sunday #47
love her!!! WarGamer Saturday #7
R.I.P. June. RubyRose Saturday #8
... littlemissmartypants Saturday #10
I remember watching "Lassie" now and then Warpy Saturday #11
The myth: The iconic image of Timmy needing to be rescued from a well is a piece of television lore, twodogsbarking Saturday #13
I sure wished she could have been mine. BattleRow Saturday #16
Right, it was Timmy's friends who fell down wells Warpy Saturday #18
My (nearly) favorite cartoon of all time PCIntern Saturday #19
LOL. MarineCombatEngineer Saturday #21
She would have LOVED that cartoon! calimary Saturday #26
Are you saying you knew Ann Lockhart? Aristus Saturday #31
Yep. Annie. My still best-friend. calimary Sunday #42
Just sent this cartoon to my sons, daughters, grandchildren, MarineCombatEngineer Saturday #35
I remember her from "Lassie". May she rest in peace. LoisB Saturday #15
Sad to hear. GreenWave Saturday #17
Wow! 100 years old! And it sounds like she lived a full life... slightlv Saturday #20
RIP Ms. Lockhart Trailrider1951 Saturday #23
Barbara Billingsley (aka June Cleaver) played the "Jive Lady" in Airplane! Beartracks Saturday #25
Yes, Ms. Billingsley Trailrider1951 Saturday #37
That was a hilarious scene, MarineCombatEngineer Sunday #41
You're probably thinking of Barbara Billingsley MarineCombatEngineer Saturday #29
Yes, thanks! Trailrider1951 Saturday #36
"" AllaN01Bear Saturday #24
Sad news 😪 Raine Saturday #27
lovely lady Skittles Saturday #28
Icon. 🥰🥰🥰 MerryBlooms Saturday #33
Cloris Leachman was also on Lassie. Also another big fave of mine MerryBlooms Saturday #34
I loved her especially as Dr. Craig on Petticoat Junction! BlueKota Saturday #38
Rest in peace June MustLoveBeagles Saturday #39
RIP. area51 Sunday #40
"A rock and roll gal" Chemical Bill Sunday #43
Wow. progressoid Sunday #46
Shit! I was there for that. calimary Sunday #49
Some Lassie episodes are hard to watch. Sad things that are really well presented. The first three seasons (before June) twodogsbarking Sunday #44
June... Clouds Passing Sunday #45

MarineCombatEngineer

(16,372 posts)
5. Petticoat Junction?
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 04:09 PM
Saturday

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

MarineCombatEngineer

(16,372 posts)
14. My sisters were into Petticoat Junction also,
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 04:38 PM
Saturday

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

(12,834 posts)
22. lol I also used my dads belt as reins
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 06:02 PM
Saturday

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

(88,274 posts)
48. "... here's a lady MD, she's as pretty as can be, at the Junction. Petticoat Junction!"
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 05:55 PM
Sunday

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

gulliver

(13,591 posts)
6. Bon Voyage, Dr. Robinson
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 04:09 PM
Saturday

...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, 04:08 PM
Sunday

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

Warpy

(114,106 posts)
11. I remember watching "Lassie" now and then
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 04:28 PM
Saturday

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

(16,409 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, 04:36 PM
Saturday

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

Warpy

(114,106 posts)
18. Right, it was Timmy's friends who fell down wells
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 05:12 PM
Saturday

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

(88,274 posts)
26. She would have LOVED that cartoon!
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 06:27 PM
Saturday

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!

Aristus

(71,192 posts)
31. Are you saying you knew Ann Lockhart?
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 07:13 PM
Saturday


I had such a huge crush on her when I was a kid.

calimary

(88,274 posts)
42. Yep. Annie. My still best-friend.
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 02:17 AM
Sunday

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

(16,372 posts)
35. Just sent this cartoon to my sons, daughters, grandchildren,
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 07:30 PM
Saturday

all of whom are loyal Democrats.

Great toon PCIntern.

slightlv

(6,923 posts)
20. Wow! 100 years old! And it sounds like she lived a full life...
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 05:49 PM
Saturday

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

(3,544 posts)
23. RIP Ms. Lockhart
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 06:07 PM
Saturday


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

(14,176 posts)
25. Barbara Billingsley (aka June Cleaver) played the "Jive Lady" in Airplane!
Sat Oct 25, 2025, 06:18 PM
Saturday


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

MarineCombatEngineer

(16,372 posts)
41. That was a hilarious scene,
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 12:33 AM
Sunday

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

(52,212 posts)
46. Wow.
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 02:25 PM
Sunday

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

(88,274 posts)
49. Shit! I was there for that.
Sun Oct 26, 2025, 06:02 PM
Sunday

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

(16,409 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, 11:36 AM
Sunday

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

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