June Lockhart has been dubbed the “Rock and Roll Goddess” by her TV son Bill Mumy, and for good reason.
Known as one of America’s favourite TV moms, the “Lost in Space” star was known for playing rock music when she wasn’t filming the hit sci-fi series.
The 99-year-old actress told Fox News Digital that when the cameras stopped rolling, she didn’t hesitate to turn up the radio.
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June Lockhart played Maureen Robinson on the TV show Lost in Space. (CBS via Getty Images)
“I’ve always been a music fan,” Lockhart says, “The Beatles, the Stones, Chicago, David Bowie, Huey Lewis and the News, Tina Turner… In the late ’60s I had a Halloween party at my house and hired a band called The Hour Glass. They were fantastic – really talented guitar, keyboards, vocals… They later changed their name to The Armand Brothers Band!”
June Lockhart introduced children to the Allman Brothers Band, then known as The Hourglass, on television. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
“I hired a band called Hourglass. They were fantastic. They had real talent on guitar, keyboards and vocals. Then they changed their name to The Armand Brothers Band!”
Mummie previously told Fox News Digital that his TV mother gave him a rigorous musical upbringing.
“She loved rock ‘n’ roll,” said the former child actor, 70. “She brought the Allman Brothers to the studio when they were in a group called the Hour Glass. She took me and (co-star) Angela Cartwright to the Whisky a Go Go. She got us tickets to Simon & Garfunkel. June was a real rock ‘n’ roll woman.”
Former “Lost in Space” child star Bill Mumy (left) told Fox News Digital that his TV mom once brought the Allman Brothers Band into the studio. (Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
Although Lockhart’s life is “sweet” these days, it’s not without its problems: She told Fox News Digital that she was speaking out after an imposter impersonated her on Facebook and asked fans for money.
“This made me feel uneasy,” Lockhart said. “I’m not on social media. I’m not on Facebook. I’m not on Instagram. And I’m definitely not on X!”
“My team sent a very stern Facebook message to the person who was using my image and likeness to impersonate me. After the second message, the Facebook page was deleted. I am not surprised that I was misled, as others have been.”
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While June Lockhart appreciates that fans want to connect with her online, she doesn’t use social media herself. (CBS via Getty Images)
“There are a lot of fan pages out there and a lot of people still love Lassie and Lost in Space,” she said. “I think it’s great that they’re interacting with me, but if someone finds a page claiming to be my profile…it’s not real.”
A Facebook spokesperson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Lockhart said it’s “great” that so many people still recognize her as their favorite TV mom. Despite her rebellious side on set, she’s always prided herself on maintaining an innocent image. She’s never sought out sexy roles in Hollywood, and she’s never felt pressured to look a certain way over the years.
June Lockhart said she never set out to adopt a sexy Hollywood image. (CBS via Getty Images)
“I wasn’t offered the role,” she said, “and I always eat carefully… I’ve got to be in shape because I’m wearing that silver space suit.”
Music had always been a part of Lockhart’s life: As a child, she began her career on stage at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House and made her film debut in 1938 in MGM’s “A Christmas Carol,” in which she starred alongside her parents, actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart.
She also starred alongside Judy Garland in the 1944 film “Love in St. Louis,” but many still remember her best roles as matriarch Maureen in “Lost in Space” and as Timmy’s mother Ruth in the original “Lassie.”
“I was intrigued by the premise of the series,” Lockhart said of joining Lost in Space.
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June Lockhart on the set of Lost in Space circa 1965. (CBS via Getty Images)
“It was about the family dynamics of a group of stranded scientists and their two kids and how they survived,” she said. “It was Space Family Robinson, a play on Swiss Family Robinson. All my co-stars were incredible professionals. It was a lot of fun on set, lots of laughs and a genuine love between us.”
When there was no music playing, there was plenty of laughter on set.
“Some of the episodes were so ridiculous it was hard to contain my laughter,” she said of Lost in Space.
June Lockhart (Ruth Martin) and John Provost (Timmy) were photographed together while filming Lassie. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
“And although all I cooked in Lassie was a pot of water, my stirring technique was very authentic!” she pointed out.
She also earned another title on set: “Queen of Scrabble.”
“As you know, there are a lot of wait times on set,” she said. “I love word and strategy games, and Scrabble was a great way to pass the time.”
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June Lockhart was known on set as the “Queen of Scrabble.” (CBS via Getty Images)
Over the years, Lockhart has maintained a close bond with the kids she watched on TV, and she continues to inspire other kids who grew up watching her to reach for the stars.
“I keep in touch with Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright, Marta Kristen and, of course, Jon Provost (of Lassie),” she said. “They’re all such incredible talents and I’m so attached to them.”
June Lockhart appears here as a young MGM star. (Toronto Star Archive/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
“I was ecstatic — pun intended,” she told Fox News Digital about being recognized by NASA for her contributions to space exploration.
“I’ve heard that my contributions have inspired many astronauts to pursue careers in space science and exploration,” she said. “It’s so gratifying to know that I’ve inspired so many people by doing something that I care about!”
Lost in Space ended in 1968. For Lockhart, it was the right time.
“My philosophy is that every job has an end, and you move on to the next one,” she said.
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“Life is sweet,” June Lockhart told Fox News Digital today. (Michael Tran/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
Now, Lockhart is “happy and enjoying life,” and she still cherishes the many fond memories she made in Hollywood.
“I loved my job and my cast,” she said, “and I never forgot that it was all make-believe.”
