June Lockhart Passes Away at Age 100: We Remember Her and Other ‘Lost in Space’ Cast We’ve Lost
A tribute to the original cast no longer with us: June Lockhart, Guy Williams, Jonathan Harris, more
When it comes to the sci-fi genre, one undeniable gift that the 1960s gave to pop culture was, of course, the original Star Trek in America and, through the BBC in England, Doctor Who. At the same time, one cannot ignore the impact that producer Irwin Allen had on sci-fi with his TV shows Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants and, of course, Lost in Space. It’s the latter that has proven the most enduring of his shows, serving as the inspiration for a reboot TV movie, a theatrical film and a Netflix series, while the original has continued to live on.
Lost in Space, which aired on CBS from 1965 to 1968, began life as a straight science fiction adventure focused on a family of space pioneers sent on a mission to colonize an alien planet, but instead, due to sabotage, find themselves adrift, desperately trying to get home. But by its second season, the decision was made to camp things up, with cosmic monsters, wild guest stars and a shift away from the trials of the Robinson family to a focus on the trio of young Will Robinson (Bill Mumy), the ever-scheming Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris) and the ship’s mobile Robot.
For kids of the ’60s, it was a thrilling weekly ride and for adults revisiting it later, it became a time capsule of an era when television dared to mix earnest family drama with outlandish spectacle. As noted, like Star Trek, which premiered a year later, Lost in Space transcended its three-season run, developing a growing fandom over the course of several generations. And for many of those fans, the original cast became family: Professor John Robinson’s steadfast leadership, Maureen’s warmth, Judy’s poise, Penny’s curiosity, Will’s bravery, Don West’s bluster and, of course, Dr. Smith’s whining treachery balanced by the Robot’s steadfast loyalty.
But as the years have gone by, time has inevitably claimed several of the stars who brought that galaxy of characters to life. We’ve just said goodbye to June Lockhart, who has passed away at the age of 100; Guy Williams, who had already been a hero to millions as Disney’s Zorro before stepping into John Robinson’s boots; while Jonathan Harris, whose deliciously over-the-top Dr. Smith turned a one-note villain into the show’s centerpiece, left us in 2002. More recently, Mark Goddard, who piloted the Jupiter 2 as Major Don West, passed in 2023. Even the Robot has bid farewell to his human counterparts, with Bob May—who wore the suit—and Dick Tufeld — whose booming voice gave the machine its soul—are both gone. What follows is our tribute to all of them.
June Lockhart (Dr. Maureen Robinson)
Background: June Lockhart was born June 25, 1925, in New York City, the daughter of actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart. Surrounded by show business from birth, she made her film debut at age 12 in MGM’s 1938 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, appearing alongside her parents. She went on to enjoy a distinguished stage career and won a Tony Award in 1948 for For Love or Money. By the 1950s, Lockhart had become a familiar face on television, earning widespread recognition as Ruth Martin, the devoted mother on Lassie. Her natural warmth and intelligence made her a fixture of family programming, paving the way for her next iconic TV role.
Character: As Dr. Maureen Robinson on Lost in Space, Lockhart brought dignity and compassion to the matriarch of the Jupiter 2. Despite the fact that the series was filled with cosmic adventure and and campy humor, Lockhart grounded it with her maternal instincts. Maureen was both homemaker and scientist—a biochemist who served as the family’s moral and emotional center.
Life after Lost in Space: When Lost in Space ended in 1968, Lockhart remained a familiar presence on television. She joined Petticoat Junction as Dr. Janet Craig, lending sophistication and warmth to the rural comedy’s later seasons. In the decades that followed, she appeared in dozens of series, ranging from The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote to Magnum, P.I. and Grey’s Anatomy. Away from acting, she became an enthusiastic supporter of America’s space program, touring NASA facilities, attending launches, and even earning a lifetime White House press credential for her reporting and advocacy of space exploration.
In a 1994 interview, she addressed her image as the ultimate TV mom, saying, “I can control my reputation but not my image, because my image is how you see me. I love rock ‘n’ roll and going to the concerts. I have driven Army tanks and flown in hot air balloons. And I go plane-gliding—the ones with no motors. I do a lot of things that didn’t go with my image.” None of which, quite obviously, impacted that image in the least.
Personal: Lockhart was married twice, first to Dr. John F. Maloney, with whom she had two daughters, Anne and June Elizabeth; and later to John Lindsay. Both marriages ended in divorce, but she remained close to her daughters, who each pursued creative careers of their own.
Death: June Lockhart passed away on October 23, 2025, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 100. Her passing marked the loss of one of television’s most beloved classic TV moms.
Guy Williams (Prof. John Robinson)
Background: Guy Williams was born Armando Joseph Catalano on January 14, 1924, in New York City, the son of Italian immigrants. Handsome, tall and with matinee idol looks, he initially pursued modeling before moving into acting. Williams signed with MGM in the 1950s and landed small parts in films such as The Beginning or the End (1947) and Bonzo Goes to College (1952). His real breakthrough came in 1957 when Walt Disney cast him in the title role of Zorro. The series made him a household name, and his black-masked hero became a beloved television icon. Williams continued acting through the early 1960s, appearing in Bonanza and other westerns, before being cast as the stalwart patriarch of Lost in Space.
Character: As Professor John Robinson, Williams played the commander of the Jupiter 2 and leader of the Robinson family. His character embodied courage, intelligence and moral authority—a classic 1960s TV father figure, but in a futuristic setting. Although Dr. Smith and the Robot eventually took center stage in many storylines, Williams’ Prof. Robinson remained a steady, dignified presence.
Life after Lost in Space: When Lost in Space ended in 1968, Williams gradually stepped back from Hollywood. Disillusioned with the roles being offered and interested in new horizons, he moved with his family to Argentina, where Zorro remained immensely popular thanks to reruns. There, he became a genuine celebrity, making public appearances and enjoying the adoration of fans who saw him as the embodiment of their swashbuckling hero. Though he occasionally returned to the United States, he largely retired from acting, preferring a quieter life outside the Hollywood system.
Personal: Williams married Janice Cooper in 1948, and the couple had two children, Guy Jr. and Toni.
Death: He died of a brain aneurysm in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 30, 1989, at the age of 65. His death was mourned both in America and in Argentina, where he had found a second life as a cultural hero.
Jonathan Harris (Dr. Zachary Smith)
Background: Jonathan Harris was born Jonathan Daniel Charasuchin on November 6, 1914, in the Bronx, New York, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants. A bright student, he initially pursued a career in pharmacy and graduated from Fordham University, but his heart was set on the theater. He changed his name to Jonathan Harris and began performing in regional theater before breaking into television in the 1950s. His sharp diction, urbane presence and knack for theatrical flourishes made him a natural fit for character roles. Before Lost in Space, he had a steady career as a television guest star and was best known to audiences as Bradford Webster on The Third Man (1959–1965).
Character: On Lost in Space, Harris portrayed Dr. Zachary Smith, originally written as a sinister saboteur who caused the Jupiter 2 to veer off course. Harris, however, reshaped the character into a comedic coward and self-serving rogue. His catchphrases, verbal sparring with the Robot and constant berating of “the bubble-headed booby” became hallmarks of the series. Over time, Smith evolved from outright villain to a source of humor and reluctant ally, and his interplay with young Will Robinson gave the show much of its heart.
Life after Lost in Space: Following the show’s cancellation in 1968, Harris continued working steadily in television and film. He became a sought-after voice actor, lending his unmistakable tones to the original Battlestar Galactica‘s Lucifer and animated series such as A Bug’s Life (1998), where he voiced the praying mantis Manny. Although he occasionally reprised Dr. Smith in reunions, Harris was careful not to be defined solely by the role, embracing a variety of parts while enjoying the adulation of fans at conventions.
Personal: Harris married his childhood sweetheart, Gertrude Bregman, in 1938, and the couple remained together until his death. They had one son, Richard.
Death: The actor died of a blood clot in his heart on November 3, 2002, in Encino, California, just three days shy of his 88th birthday.
Mark Goddard (Maj. Don West)
Background: Mark Goddard was born Charles Harvey Goddard on July 24, 1936, in Lowell, Massachusetts. After initially pursuing a career in education, he shifted his focus to acting and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. With his rugged looks and easy charm, he found steady work in television during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He co-starred in the CBS detective series Johnny Ringo (1959–1960) and later gained attention on The Detectives (1960–1962), working alongside Robert Taylor. By the time Lost in Space came along, Goddard was a familiar face on TV westerns and dramas.
Character: On Lost in Space, Goddard played Major Don West, the hot-tempered, action-oriented pilot of the Jupiter 2. Designed as the show’s resident man of action and romantic lead opposite Judy Robinson, West often butted heads with Dr. Smith and provided the muscle in many adventures. Although his role was gradually diminished as the series shifted its focus toward Dr. Smith, Will and the Robot, Goddard’s presence added a necessary youthful energy and toughness to the cast.
Life after Lost in Space: Following the show’s end in 1968, Goddard worked steadily in guest roles on popular TV series such as Mod Squad, Barnaby Jones and Quincy, M.E. He also appeared in daytime dramas and stage productions. Later in life, Goddard stepped back from Hollywood, earned a master’s degree in education and taught special education for more than 20 years in Massachusetts. He embraced his connection to Lost in Space, regularly appearing at conventions and fan gatherings, often alongside former co-stars.
Personal: Goddard was married three times, including a long marriage to Evelyn Pezzulich, with whom he had three children.
Death: Mark Goddard died on October 10, 2023, at the age of 87, due to pulmonary fibrosis.
Bob May (The Robot)
Background: Bob May was born September 4, 1939, in New York City, into a family with a strong vaudeville and circus background. His grandfather was famed vaudevillian Chic Johnson of the comedy duo Olsen and Johnson, and May himself grew up around entertainment. Small in stature but full of energy, he worked as a stuntman, dancer and actor, appearing in a variety of television shows during the 1950s and 1960s. His background in physical performance, coupled with his willingness to endure discomfort, made him an ideal fit for the demanding role that would define his career.
Character: On Lost in Space, May performed inside the cumbersome, 200-pound Robot costume, designed by Robert Kinoshita (who had also created Forbidden Planet’s Robby the Robot). The suit was hot, heavy and restrictive, but May managed to give the Robot life through his gestures, movements and body language. While the character’s voice came from Dick Tufeld, it was May’s physical presence that allowed the Robot to interact believably with the cast.
Life after Lost in Space: May continued to work in television, doing stunts and small acting parts on shows like The Time Tunnel and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Later in life, he embraced his identity as “the man inside the Robot,” appearing at conventions, signing autographs and delighting fans with stories of the hardships (and humor) of working inside the famous costume.
Personal: Bob May was married to Judith May for over 50 years, and together they had children and grandchildren.
Death: He died of congestive heart failure on January 18, 2009, at the age of 69.
Dick Tufeld (Voice of the Robot)
Background: Dick Tufeld was born December 11, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. After serving in World War II, he studied at Northwestern University before entering broadcasting. Tufeld began his career in radio as an announcer and quickly moved into television, where his smooth baritone and precise diction made him one of the most in-demand voices of the 1950s and 1960s. He worked extensively with producer Irwin Allen, providing narration and promotional voice work for several of Allen’s series, including Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Time Tunnel and Lost in Space.
Character: On Lost in Space, Tufeld supplied the unforgettable voice of the Robot, one of the show’s defining characters. While Bob May gave the Robot its physical presence, it was Tufeld’s booming delivery that gave it personality—stern, protective, sarcastic, and often deeply humorous. His cry of “Danger, Will Robinson!” became one of the most iconic catchphrases in television history. In addition to voicing the Robot, Tufeld also narrated the show’s opening, setting the stage each week for the Robinsons’ adventures.
Life after Lost in Space: Tufeld continued a highly successful career as a voice actor and announcer. He narrated The Fantastic Four animated series in the late 1960s, worked extensively on Disney projects and became a fixture in TV promos, commercials and documentaries. He reprised his role as the voice of the Robot for various Lost in Space reunions and even the 1998 feature film, which included a reimagined Robot with his classic tones. His body of work extended over half a century and his voice was instantly recognizable to generations of audiences.
Personal: Tufeld was married to Adrienne Tufeld until her death in 2004, and they had three children together.
Death: Dick Tufeld died on January 22, 2012, at the age of 85, in Studio City, California.
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