JUNE LOCKHART?

It's hard to imagine there being anyone who has ever watched television that doesn't know who JUNE LOCKHART (1925-Present) is. I became first acquainted with her through the "Timmy and Lassie" television series. My mother had long know who she was. Whenever someone lists the best mothers on television, June is always among them. Not only did she play Ruth Martin on the "Lassie" series for fourteen episodes (from 1958-1964), she also played another mother, Maureen Robinson, on the "Lost in Space" series for 36 episodes (from 1965-1968). After "Timmy and Lassie", I saw her in episodes of "Gunsmoke", "Perry Mason", "Bewitched", "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", "Death Valley Days", "Family Affair" and "The Beverly Hillbillies". After she played Dr. Janet Craig on "The Beverly Hillbillies", that character became a regular on "Petticoat Junction". I continued seeing June Lockhart, as she appeared in episodes of "Love American Style", "Marcus Welby, M.D.", "Adam 12", "Ellery Queen", "Happy Days", "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries", "Magnum P.I.", "Falcon Crest", and the "Greatest American Hero." She then had a regular part on "General Hospital." All I can say is I'm not only person who understands how talented and likable June Lockhart is. She was in way more shows than I ever got to see. He made several made-for-TV movies as well. I remember her appearing on "The Drew Carey Show", "Beverly Hills 90210", "Step by Step", "Roseanne", "Full House", "Amazing Stories" and "Murder She Wrote". Some of her best parts were all the theatrical productions that aired on television.

Well before television however, June Lockhart was already a star. She was born to well-known actors, Gene Lockhart and Kathleen Lockhart. When she debuted on Broadway in "For Love or Money", she got a standing ovation opening night. One critic compared her debut to that of the work of Helen Hayes and Margaret Sullavan. For this role alone, June won a Tony Award, the Donaldson Award, the Theatre World Award and the Associated Press citation for Woman of the Year for Drama. And by 1947, she had appeared in more than a dozen films. The Hollywood Walk of Fame has two stars for June Lockhart.

Beyond so many parts, June plays active roles in the world around her. She is an avid student of medicine and political journalism. She is involved in International Hearing Dog, Inc., a program in which dogs are rescued from animal shelters and trained to be the ears for the deaf. She is a member of the Radio and Television News Directors Association and the National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts. She is often an observer at the White House Press Briefings, and is the Ambassador for the California State Parks System. For 15 years, June Lockhart was a director of the First Federal Bank of California. She chairs the bank's Executive Committee on Community Reinvestment Act. She is also a speaker for the Federal Reserve Bank.

Now, I wish to tell you about five of her films to introduce you to this warm and truly loving human being. I hope you'll grow to love June Lockhart as so many of us have. Then, pay attention, and you'll be sure to see her on television, for she is often interviewed, and is always warm and friendly.







Haven't you seen Sergeant York (1941)? June played Rosie York, my favorite of her parts.






Watch this and then see these other four films.


All This, and Heaven Too (1940) She plays Isabelle.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) She plays Lucille Ballard.
Adam Had Four Sons (1941) She plays Vance.
Son of Lassie (1945) She plays Priscilla.


*Contributed by: "Elizabeth Van Cleve Randolph" Date: Fri, Feb 16, 2007 / 11:46:24 PST