Although actress June Lockhart may have left the rest of us down here on Earth, it's fitting that she's now soaring among the stars. The "Lassie" and "Lost in Space" star has died at age 100, according to multiple reports.
But there was much more to her life and career than those "TV mom" roles would suggest.
June Lockhart, the actor best known for her role as the matriarch in the TV series "Lassie", has died, her family spokesperson said Saturday. https://t.co/3ZW1HT1uTO
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 25, 2025
Lockhart died of natural causes at home in Santa Monica, California, with her daughter, June Elizabeth, and granddaughter, Christianna, by her side, her spokesperson said Saturday in a statement.
Her family said in the statement, "We will miss this truly remarkable woman, mom and grandmama."
The report continues with a bit of her biography:
Born in New York on June 25, 1925, Lockhart was the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Gene Lockhart and actor Kathleen Lockhart. She made her professional debut at age 8, playing Mimsey in a Metropolitan Opera production of Peter Ibbetson. She later made her screen debut in MGM's version of "A Christmas Carol", playing the daughter of her real-life parents in the movie.
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[Lockhart] became a household name to American audiences when she starred as Ruth Martin, the mother in "Lassie," the hit TV show featuring a beloved long-haired collie that aired from 1954 to 1974.
Lockhart would again capture TV audiences in her role as Maureen Robinson, the matriarch in "Lost in Space," a show about a family struggling to survive in a space colony. It ran from 1965 through 1968.
Rest in Peace American actress June Lockhart (June 25, 1925 – October 23, 2025), whose credits include Ruth Martin on Lassie (1958–1964), Dr. Maureen Robinson on Lost in Space (1965–1968), and Dr. Janet Craig on Petticoat Junction (1968–1970). pic.twitter.com/IIqzJpk4uD
— Killer Cosmonaut (@kitschkong) October 25, 2025
While Lockhart was best known for her TV roles, earlier in her career she was the first performer to win a "Best Newcomer" Tony Award--even before The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre gained its more charming and short moniker--for her first Broadway role in 1947's For Love or Money.
Here's more:
She quickly shared scenes with Hollywood legends, appearing in "All This and Heaven Too" with Bette Davis and Charles Boyer, and in 1941, playing Rosie, the sister of Gary Cooper’s character in "Sergeant York," directed by Howard Hawks.
By 19, Lockhart was under contract with MGM, earning acclaim as Lucille Ballard in "Meet Me in St. Louis," directed by Vincente Minnelli.
"Meet Me in St. Louis" (1948), of course, co-starred the legendary Judy Garland (whom the Italian director later married after meeting while making the film).
God Speed speed June Lockhart.
— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) October 25, 2025
Something about June on my screen was the equivalent of a hug.
No matter the role, no matter the show, she was serotonin.
Meet Me In St. Louis (1948)
"The plans have changed Esther" pic.twitter.com/9WST7pHmR1
Lockhart also was a major public supporter for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for years:
Lockhart became a NASA spokesperson, attending many NASA launches and landings throughout the decades. Her daughter said her mother "cherished playing her role" in 'Lost in Space' and she was delighted to know that she "inspired many future astronauts."
Bob Jacobs, whose X bio says he retired from NASA after "a remarkable 25-year journey," shares this touching tribute to her work:
Farewell to a true love, June Lockhart — whose warmth and courage guided families on Earth and among the stars. She gave us comfort, hope, and the belief that even in the unknown, we could find our way home.
— Bob Jacobs (@bnjacobs) October 25, 2025
I had the privilege of working with June on countless projects over the… pic.twitter.com/dLw6H2hDUd
I had the privilege of working with June on countless projects over the years. She was a sweetheart with a heart of gold — and the strength of a lion. Fearless, gracious, and endlessly kind, she lifted every room she entered and every person she met.
Thank you, June, for the light you shared and the example you set. You’ll always be part of the best of who we are.
And although she had a "nice" image because of her famed television roles, much like the late Betty White, she proved she wasn't afraid of poking fun at herself.
Along with some other "moms" from popular TV shows over the decades, Lockhart appeared on an episode of "Roseanne" from 1995. That's her, along with Barbara Billingsley (Leave it to Beaver), Isabel Sanford (The Jeffersons), and Alley Mills (The Wonder Years).
Enjoy the laughter!
Rest in peace, June.
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