Categories: Stories

June Lockhart, America’s Favorite Space Mom, Still Beautiful Turns 95

ADVERTISEMENT

She’s tended to gardens while traveling among the stars. Back on earth, she managed a farm often saved by a lovable dog. All through it, June Lockhart showed her strength as a graceful performer and caring matriarchal figure. On June 26, she turns 95 and is still stunning.

But before even considering her age, it’s also good to look at her impressive career. In both Lost in Space and Lassie, she played a caring mother and managed to make both roles unique and inspiring. Her roles sparked excitement and fondness in viewers; her personality continually draws admiration from her peers.

ADVERTISEMENT

June Lockhart is a mom to all

June Lockhart played iconic motherly roles that made an impact / Wikimedia Commons

Born on June 25, 1925, June Lockhart got her start with entertainment in 1938, appearing beside her parents in A Christmas Carol. Meanwhile, she first appeared on stage when she was only eight. Since these two milestones, she just kept the momentum going. Some of her most famous roles involve her playing a mom. From 1958 to 1964, she played the mother of Timmy Martin on Lassie. This gave her a chance to help present an idyllic and educational version of one of America’s biggest coming-of-age shows.

ADVERTISEMENT

RELATED: These Celebrities In Their 90s And Beyond Prove Age Is Just A Number

Indeed, Lockhart described Lassie as, “a fairy tale about people on a farm in which the dog solves all the problems in 22 minutes, in time for the last commercial.” But she didn’t stick to raising a family on a farm. She also did so while traveling through space as Dr. Maureen Robinson in Lost in Space. This put her among established names like Guy Williams and Jonathan Harris. While providing both good food and advice, the biochemist also tended to the garden and some construction in the family’s travels. Though she was an iconic TV mom, while playing Dr. Maureen Robinson, Lockhart carried a very surprising picture around. Bill Mumy, who played her TV son, revealed that Lockhart carried a picture of none other than David Bowie around!

Lockhart sits among all the stars… literally

To call Lockhart a star would not be an exaggeration / Wikimedia Commons

In that same interview with the Archive of American Television, Mumy had words of admiration for the talented actress. He stated, “June is such an interesting character… She is, without a doubt, one of the smartest people I’ve ever met in my life. She is truly a rock & roll goddess. I swear to god. She lives for rock & roll.” Hence the unique picture she carried around like a talisman through the ’80s.

But June Lockhart, into her mid-90s, has even more points to be proud of. Lockhart is something of a star – in multiple ways. She has not one but two stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. One is for her work in motion pictures, and the other for television. Both started shining along those famous paths on February 8, 1960. But that’s not all. As recently as 2013 saw NASA itself bestowed upon her the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal. The award acknowledged her part in inspiring the public’s interest in space.

The original cast talks about the show and the feature film in intros from a 1997 LIS marathon. Bill Mumy, Jonathan Harris, Marta Kristen, Angela Cartwright, Mark Goddard, June Lockhart, Bob May, and Dick Tufeld. (Part 4 of 4)

Show comments
Share
Published by

Recent Posts

test

test

4 years ago

‘The Little Rascals’: The ‘Our Gang Curse’ That May Have Haunted the Cast Throughout the Years

Hollywood “curses” are a strange thing as people tend to look at the collective deaths…

4 years ago

Florida Man Pays Utility Bills For Over 100 Families For Second Christmas In A Row

74-year-old Michael Esmond is putting on the Santa Claus gear this year once again as…

4 years ago

Orlando PD Donates Christmas Gifts To More Than 200 Kids In Need

Police officers from Orlando, FL donated and delivered Christmas gifts to more than 200 kids…

4 years ago

The 1965 Kecksburg Incident: What Fell Over Pennsylvania?

On December 9, 1965, a blue-tinged fireball streaked across the sky over Kecksburg, Pennsylvania. However,…

4 years ago

Why The Pandemic Helped Bring Back Sunday Family Dinners

Over years, less emphasis ended up placed on traditional Sunday family dinners. In those times,…

4 years ago