RENO—June Lockhart, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in “Lost in Space” and “Lassie,” has died at 97. Grether passed away at her home from natural causes on Thursday night, at the age of 100 years old. Lockhart’s daughter, June Elizabeth, and her granddaughter, Christianna, were at her side when she passed.
Born in New York City in 1925, Lockhart was the daughter of actors Gene Lockhart and Kathleen Lockhart. Her original journey in the entertainment industry was just as noteworthy as her advocacy, spanning nearly eight decades. Throughout her career, she graced a variety of television shows, including “Petticoat Junction,” “General Hospital,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Happy Days,” “Full House,” “Roseanne,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Lockhart took Broadway by storm in 1947 with her show-stopping turn in the comedy, “For Love or Money.” The next year, she got a special Tony Award for her exceptional debut performance. Her phenomenal talent illuminated not just the stage. Over the course of her career she received two Emmy nominations and won the Emmy for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series for her legendary performance on “Lassie.”
In 1951, Lockhart married John F. Maloney. They had two daughters, Anne and June Elizabeth. The pair divorced in 1959, but despite the change in her personal life, Lockhart’s career continued to flourish. In 2021, she recorded a voice cameo in Netflix’s reboot of “Lost in Space.” This brief appearance cemented her lasting legacy in the industry.
Lockhart’s contributions to entertainment earned her two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for film and another for television. Her impact as a role model went far beyond the screen, as she inspired countless audiences with her performances and passion. As she tweeted once, “Kids would come up to her and tell her that watching Lost in Space made them want to become scientists. That’s why I worked for six years on Lassie. Not a single one of those people ever came up to me and said, “It made me want to be a farmer!”
“She was very happy up until the very end, reading the New York Times and LA Times every day. It was very important to her to stay focused on the news of the day,” said Lyle Gregory.