Legendary TV Icon June Lockhart Dies at 100

Renowned actress June Lockhart, who captivated audiences with her starring roles on the classic TV shows "Lassie" and "Lost in Space," has passed away at the age of 100. Lockhart died of natural causes on Thursday, October 23rd, according to a statement from her daughter June Elizabeth.

Lockhart's daughter described her mother as someone who "always considered acting as her craft, her vocation, but her true passions were journalism, politics, science and NASA." She was delighted to know that her portrayal of Maureen Robinson on "Lost in Space" had inspired many future astronauts, who would visit her at NASA to express their gratitude.

Lockhart's acting career spanned decades, with her first major TV role coming in 1958 as Ruth Martin on "Lassie," a part she would play for 200 episodes. She then went on to portray the iconic character of Maureen Robinson on "Lost in Space" from 1965 to 1968. Lockhart's final TV role was providing the voice of Alpha Control for the 2021 "Lost in Space" reboot on Netflix.

In addition to her successful television work, Lockhart was also an accomplished film actress, with one of her most memorable roles being Lucille Ballard in the musical "Meet Me in St. Louis." She even appeared in the 1945 film "Son of Lassie" and the 1998 "Lost in Space" movie, paying homage to her famous TV characters.