Hollywood Mourns: ‘Lost in Space’ Star June Lockhart Dies at 100 After a Legendary Career Spanning Eight Decades

LOS ANGELES — June Lockhart, the beloved actress whose warmth, wit, and pioneering spirit made her a television icon in shows like “Lassie” and “Lost in Space,” has died at the age of 100.

Her family confirmed she passed peacefully at her California home, surrounded by loved ones.

Lockhart’s career stretched across more than eight decades — from the golden age of Hollywood to the dawn of the space age. She first captured audiences’ hearts as the devoted mother Ruth Martin on “Lassie” in the 1950s, and later cemented her legacy as Dr. Maureen Robinson, the calm and brilliant matriarch of “Lost in Space,” the 1960s sci-fi classic that inspired generations of dreamers and scientists.

“She represented the best of us — curious, courageous, endlessly compassionate,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. “Her work inspired countless young people, especially women, to imagine themselves among the stars.”

Beyond her acting, Lockhart was a lifelong advocate for space exploration. A frequent guest at NASA events, she was awarded the agency’s Exceptional Public Achievement Medal in recognition of her decades-long support for science education and human spaceflight.

Born in New York City in 1925 to famed actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, June made her film debut alongside her parents in “A Christmas Carol” (1938). She later appeared in “Meet Me in St. Louis” and “Sergeant York” before transitioning to television — where she would find her greatest fame and lasting impact.

Fans and colleagues alike are paying tribute to her online, remembering her as “Hollywood’s eternal mother figure” and a “graceful trailblazer” whose career embodied both heart and heroism.

Lockhart is survived by her daughters, Anne and Lizabeth, both of whom followed her into acting.

As one admirer wrote on social media:

“For generations, she made us feel at home — whether it was on Earth, or lost somewhere in space.”