June Lockhart

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June Lockhart
Born June 25, 1925 (1925-06-25) (age 82)
New York, New York
Years active 1948-present
Spouse(s) Dr. John F. Maloney (1951-1959)
Official website

June Lockhart (born on June 25, 1925, in New York City, New York) is an American television and film actress, primarily on 1950s and 1960s television and soap operas.

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June Lockhart is best known for her roles as the 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 hit CBS series, Lassie (a role that she played from 1958-1964). She replaced actress Cloris Leachman. Lockhart then became Dr. Maureen Robinson, the wife of Professor John Robinson (portrayed by Guy Williams) in the 1960s hit series, Lost in Space. The sci-fi program on CBS was popular, noted for the design of the sleek silver spacesuits, which June Lockhart wore in many publicity photos.

[edit] Career

She was the only child of two actors: Canadian-born Gene Lockhart, who came to fame on Broadway in 1933 in Ah, Wilderness!, and UK-born Kathleen Arthur Lockhart. They appeared together in A Christmas Carol, in which June, as a teen, appeared. June also played supporting parts in films as Meet Me in St. Louis, Sergeant York, and The Yearling. In 1946, Lockhart played the title role in She-Wolf of London.

June Lockhart won a 1948 Tony Award for Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer (a category that no longer exists) for her role on Broadway in For Love or Money. And in 1951, she starred in Lawrence Riley's biographical play Kin Hubbard opposite Tom Ewell.

In the late 1950s she appeared in several popular television Westerns including: Wagon Train and Cimarron City on NBC and Gunsmoke, Have Gun - Will Travel, and Rawhide on CBS. She played the part of "Rainy Dawson" in "The Incident at Barker Springs" (1958) on Rawhide. She appeared as "Dr. Phyllis Thackeray" in the 1957 "Have Gun-Will Travel" episode "No Visitors", a character that she reprised in the 1958 episode "The Return of Dr. Thackeray".

She also appeared as a regular in the ABC soap opera General Hospital in several different years, and as Dr. Janet Craig on the CBS sitcom Petticoat Junction, replacing Bea Benaderet, who died of cancer during the run of the show. Her principal costar was Edgar Buchanan as the laid-back but resourceful Uncle Joe Carson. She also 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, which was followed by the two sequel films, Troll 2 and Troll 3. Years later, in 1998, she appeared in the film version also named Lost in Space (film), thirty years after starring in the TV series.

[edit] Family

In 1951, Lockhart married Dr. John Lindsay (a.k.a. John F. Maloney) at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City in 1951. They had two daughters, June Elizabeth and Anne Kathleen (b. 1953). The couple divorced in 1959. June Lockhart has never remarried.

Both daughters have taken their mother's maiden name for their stage names. One daughter, Junie Lockhart, also billed as Lizbeth Lockhart, had only a brief acting career, but Anne Lockhart has appeared in numerous films and television programs.

During a taping of The Tonight Show on March 26, 2007, Jay Leno commented that June had contributed to his weekly segment, 'headlines'. He quipped, "I can't call her June, she's Timmy's mom."

[edit] Filmography

The handprints of June Lockhart in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.
The handprints of June Lockhart in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Lockhart, June
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION American TV and film actress
DATE OF BIRTH June 25, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH New York, New York
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH