Sunday, November 20, 2011

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: JUNE LOCKHART

I am not an animal lover, but one of my favorite reruns I watched growing up was "Lassie". Actress June Lockhart was one of the best things about the corny black and white show. She came from a long acting family, and her mark she left on television should not be underestimated.

Born in New York City in 1925, Lockhart is the daughter of Canadian-born actor Gene Lockhart, who came to prominence on Broadway in 1933 in Ah, Wilderness!, and English-born actress Kathleen Arthur Lockhart. In 1948, Lockhart won a Tony Award for Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer (a category that no longer exists) for her role on Broadway in For Love or Money. In the late 1950s, she guest starred in several popular television Westerns including: Wagon Train and Cimarron City on NBC and Gunsmoke, Have Gun – Will Travel, and Rawhide on CBS.

Lockhart is best known for her roles as TV mothers, first as Ruth Martin, the wife of Paul Martin (portrayed by Hugh Reilly), and the mother of Timmy Martin (played by Jon Provost) in the 1954 CBS series, Lassie (a role that she played from 1958–64). She replaced actress Cloris Leachman. Lockhart then became Dr. Maureen Robinson, the wife of Professor John Robinson (portrayed by Zorro actor Guy Williams) in the Lost in Space (1965–68) series. The science fiction program on CBS was popular, remembered for the design of the sleek silver spacesuits, which Lockhart wore in many publicity photos.


Lockhart appeared as Dr. Janet Craig on the CBS sitcom Petticoat Junction, after Bea Benaderet died during the run of the show, and as a regular in the ABC soap opera General Hospital during the 1980s and 1990s. She provided the voice of Martha Day, the lead character in the Hanna-Barbara animated series These Are the Days. Lockhart was the only actor or actress to have starred in three hit series during the 1960s.


In 1986, she appeared in the fantasy film, Troll. The younger version of her character in that film was played by her daughter, Anne Lockhart. They had previously played the same woman at two different ages in an episode of the television series Magnum, P.I. (1981). In 1991, Lockhart appeared as Miss Wiltrout, Michelle Tanner's kindergarten teacher on the TV sitcom Full House. She also had a cameo in the 1998 film Lost in Space, based on the television series she had starred in thirty years earlier. In 2002, she appeared in two episodes of The Drew Carey Show as Lewis's mother, Misty Kiniski.

In 2004, she voiced the role of Grandma Emma Fowler in Focus on the Family's The Last Chance Detectives audio cases. Lockhart starred as James Caan's mother in an episode of Las Vegas in 2004. Lockhart has since guest starred on episodes of Cold Case and Grey's Anatomy, in the 2007 ABC Family television film Holiday in Handcuffs, and in the 2007 feature film Wesley. Now at the age of 86, June Lockhart is still a beauty that appears from time to time not only in television but films as well...

44 comments:

  1. The adorable child (All This, and Heaven Too) turned into such an attractive and accomplished atress. I guess "gene"s will tell. (Sorry.)

    The "Magnum PI" episode mentioned ("Lest We Forget") is a favourite of mine. Not only an interesting story, but the dream casting of June and Anne, and of Jose and Miguel Ferrer as the guest leads. A real treat.

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  2. ihave much respect for this beautifull woman sometimes i wish she was my mother says dj startrak.

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  3. I was lucky enough to meet Ms. Lockhart in person when I was attending college in Stockton, CA. I came upon her doing a personal appearance and was dumbstruck. THE 'Mrs. Robinson' from Lost in Space! TIMMY'S MOM!!! Needless to say I was stunned stupid. Love all your work maam. Thank you for giving us so much of your life!! Hope to see you soon.

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  4. was she in a version of Scrooge" in which her father and mother played the Crachets--i thought she was one of the children--- ?

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    1. Yes she was...here is a link...http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029992/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

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  5. Whatever happened with or to the young man she married who was half her age/ I don't remember seeing her in ANYTHING after that. Did they divorce or are they still together? I remember that she was 40 or so, and the young man was 20 something.

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    1. GOOD 4 HER --------- YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    2. She co-hosted the Miss USA Pageant on television for several years, but was abruptly fired under a morals clause when the program's producers learned she was living in sin -- with a much younger man.

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  6. She was also in Spy Kids as the kids' grandmother with Ricardo Maltoban as their grandfather

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  7. Thankyou for being a lovely part in some of the memories of my life, God Bless you June Lockhart, from Alan Stewart, Australia, 18/02/14

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  8. June Lockhart was and IS great in LOST IN SPACE. I ever watch Lost In Space at brazilian televisions and at DVD Fox brazilian collection. From Heitor Vianna - Rio de Janeiro. BRAZIL. Thank you USA, for the great past series !

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  9. Thank you dear lady for everything. You seemed to have a great heart. and soul in everything you do. GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU NOW AND FOREVER.

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  10. I wrote Ms Lockhart a letter one time and it took a very long time to reach her. I was flabbergasted when she called me directly to let me know she had received it and talked with me. She is one of my favorite actresses and hails from a time when you really needed to be a good actress to make it. Here is to you Ms Lockhart have enjoyed all your work you are one of the best.

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    1. Hi, I see here that you were able to send June lockhart a letter. I have been searching where to send my letter and hoping you can PLEASE HELP!:) thank u! Kerrylockhart7@gmail.com

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    2. Can u PLEASE help me, I am trying to find where to send June lockharts letter...

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    3. Yes I,d very much like to know how to and where to send letters to my favorite stars.

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  11. I grew up watching Lassie as a kid and always enjoyed seeing June Lockhart as the mother of It's for Timmy. In 1981 I was in China with the singing group. We had the afternoon off and was doing some shopping in a store in Peking. I saw a June with her mother in the store as well. Some of the other singers recognized her and we talked for a few minutes. She was very kind and took time for us. What a coincidence that you would meet on the other side of the earth.

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    1. I watched Lassie as well, but I remember earlier episodes when Jeff owned Lassie.

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  12. Great Actress .......... YES
    BEAUTIFUL ................. INDEED
    ....................................................... but how SAD / HORRIBLE, that she and all the other actresses were not permitted to really use their talent with roles equal to the men in Hollywood and over the Pond !!!!

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  13. I met her one night on the santa monica peir helping sell t shirts for the santa monica police Calvary, I brought a t shirt and she asked me if I wanted to buy one of her photos, I said no, I'll never forget the look of hurt on her face. I wish I would have gotten one now. I feel bad for disappointing her.

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  14. shows how actress can age gracefully and beautifully without tons of plastic surgery.

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  15. This lady is still beautiful

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  16. This lady is still beautiful

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  17. I thought it was really odd that June was in my dream last night. I have not seen her on television lately so seeing her in my dream was surprising. She was young and teaching and smiling that beautiful smile. I would love to meet this wonderful woman.

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  18. What a beautiful, wholesome woman June Lockhart has always been. I admire her.

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  19. Beauty and grace are life-long qualities of this lovely lady :-)

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  20. Where can I wriute her? ibefreer47@yahoo.com Ingrid H.

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  21. And of course her small role in "Meet Me In St Louis" showed how gorgeous she was on the silver screen.

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  22. I was afriend of her son in college,where is he now?

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  23. I don't know if it still happens, but for years you could often find her in the crowd at Washington, D.C. political hearings, press conferences, etc. She is a political junkie of the first degree.

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  24. I love June Lockhart, I grew up watching her on TV! I believe that she is a great lady and a wonderful actress! I really wanted the movie to be a hit, because that was one of my favorite's growing up, but I ended up hating it! However that was NOT miss Lochart's fault!

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  25. When I was ten years old and only just waking up to female charm, Yvonne de Carlo (as Lily Munster) and June Lockhart (as Maureen Robinson in 'Lost in Space') were the first two women to make me go ever-so-slightly weak at the knees. Even today, just looking at a black-and-white archive photo of June Lockhart wearing a silver space suit is enough to raise my body temperature. Her eyes radiated a combination of kindness, fairness and humorous knowingness; the clean lines of her face were just so elegant; and then there was that silver space suit. Wow. I never did meet a real-life Maureen Robinson, more's the pity, or I'd probably have proposed marriage on first acquaintance. God bless June Lockhart, say I.

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    1. Is this a photo you recall enjoying Maureen Robinson in her Silver Nomex Spacesuit?

      http://www.mancrushes.com/sites/default/files/june-lockhart-lassie-2.jpg

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    2. Well, I guess there are many such photos, but this is one of my all-time favourites:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Lockhart#/media/File:June_Lockhart_Lost_in_Space_1965.JPG

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  26. it was 1971 living in north hollywood cal at 22 went to martin cadillac in la looking for a used cadillac there it was just traded in by june lockhart a 1964 cadillac coupe black on black for 2300 salesman gave me her address drove there to ask her if the car was ok and if needing anything she was not there her neighbor called her for me we spoke briefly about the car she assured me it was a good car thanked her and back to martin cadillac to purchase it was a great car wish i still had it today thanks june may god bless barry mr396@aol.com

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  27. I recently saw June Lockhart guest starring as a doctor on " Have Gun: Will Travel". She was just marvelous. There was a smallpox case and she had to keep drovers coming in from a long cattle drive from going into town and spreading the disease. She acted as a former girlfriend of Palladin, aptly played by Richard Boone. She was just wonderful!

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  28. I had lunch with June Lockhart and Patrice Munsel in the Crystal Palace in San Francisco in 1961 when I was 18 and graduating high school. Her stepson Lance Lindsay was a friend and June and her Husband John Lindsay invited me to join then on a trip to look for colleges for Lance. I fell in love that summer with the man who would become my husband 10 years later. My memories of June and the experiences she shared with me (visiting Lassie set, dinner with the Zellerbachs at Trader Joes, the opening of Lawrence Welk Bank) are all distant fond memories. I’m almost 75 but I remember like it was yesterday.

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    1. I knew Lance at MPC, we were friends.

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  29. I came across old “ Lost in Space” episodes today. Fun memory. I have to say June Lockhart was quite a pretty woman with an amazing walk!

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  30. I would love to talk to Lance. I am now 76 and living in No Cal. We went to Junior and Senior High together. What is MPC? See my posted comment. ssrfoxtrot6@gmail.com. Old name Sandy Frerichs

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    1. I also went to school with Lance! We were at Sacramento State together! He was dating my roommate Treasa Patterson. He was playing flaminco guitar. My name was Kathy Hadley.

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  31. I met Junelockhart in Person At a Summer SuperMegaFestShow in Boston,MA Where I got an autographed Picture of her.
    Stebaer4@aol.com

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  32. Lance lives in Malibu. My friend tutored him on how to finance the building of his home,

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