Songwriters, legendary voice actors, and an academic monkey. For "Lost in Space"
cast members young and old, the family-friendly sci-fi series was an unforgettable stepping stone.
Guy Williams started his career in minor film roles and modeling. He became world-famous as Don
Diego de la Vega, better known as "Zorro," in the hit Walt Disney TV series. His classic Hollywood
image of a dashing hero made him the perfect Professor John Robinson in "Lost in Space."
According to the Los Angeles Times, not long after "Lost in Space" concluded, Williams relocated
to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his roles in "The Prince and the Pauper," "Captain Sindbad",
as well as "Lost in Space," and "Zorro" were very popular. With his marriage ended and children
grown, Williams had been living alone at the time of his death. After suffering a fatal heart
attack In 1989, it was a week before Williams was discovered by police in his apartment.
Guy Williams was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001. His son,
Guy Williams, Jr., gratefully accepted it on his father's behalf.
June Lockhart played Maureen Robinson, the scientist and mom-next-door who could rescue
her husband in deep space at one moment and hunt down hostile creatures in another.
"Doctor Smith, I could just throttle you!"
"No violence please, dear lady. I was only trying to help."
Lockhart came from a family of Hollywood actors. In MGM's 1938
version of "A Christmas Carol," she appeared with her mother, Kathleen, and her father,
Gene Lockhart. Before "Lost in Space," she spent six years with Lassie as Timmy's mother,
Ruth Martin. After "Lost in Space," Lockhart joined the cast of "Petticoat Junction."
In addition to being a popular guest on game shows, talk shows, and holiday parades,
June Lockhart continued to appear in popular series for decades to come. She had roles in
"Full House," "Magnum, P.I.," "Murder, She Wrote," and "General Hospital." She also did
some work as a voice actor, portraying Martha Day in Hanna-Barbera's "These Are the Days.".
In addition to logging nearly two hundred film and TV credits to date, the New York Post reports that
Lockhart avidly followed political campaigns. Harry S. Truman was the first president she met
in 1948, and she proceeded to attend presidential press briefings and following campaigns into the
early 2000s. In 2013, She made American history of her own when NASA officially recognized
her for her public support of the program, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press.
Now ninety-seven, June Lockhart continues to act. Her most recent
role is the voice of Alpha Control on the "Lost in Space" series reboot in 2021.
"Jupiter two, this is operations. You're all clear for landing. Welcome home. Robinsons"
Mark Goddard was a classically trained young actor in TV and films before he was cast as
Major Don West on "Lost in Space.'' His credits include iconic TV series like
"Gunsmoke" and "The Fugitive." After "Lost in Space'' ended, he revealed in an interview with
Pop Entertainment that he kept his work on the show hidden for several years after his costar
Guy Williams described the show as, quote, "a career buster" due to its goofy nature.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! We vegetables can be violent too, if we have to!"
It turns out Goddard needn't have worried for his career. The actor has worked steadily on
TV and in film ever since, with roles in films like "Roller Boogie" and shows such
as "General Hospital" and "One Life to Live." Goddard often reunited with his
"Lost in Space" castmates, even making a cameo in the 1998 film adaptation.
In his 2008 memoir, "To Space and Back" and his 2016 follow-up,
"Three Years Lost in Space," Goddard describes how the quirky series that
he once thought would end his career proved its staying power to each new generation.
Marta Kristen played the young Judy Robinson in the series, the oldest Robinson daughter
who always seemed to be under the watchful eye of Major West. Before "Lost in Space," Kristen
appeared in several high-profile TV series, including "Leave it To Beaver" and "The Loretta
Young Show." In the movies, her roles included the magical Lorelei in "Beach Blanket Bingo."
The Spectrum reports that in real life, Kristen's mother put her up for adoption in her native Oslo,
Norway to prevent the Nazis from putting her in their Lebensborn
Program for raising "racially pure" children during World War II. Instead,
Kristen was brought up in an underground orphanage in Norway, where she was later
adopted by an American couple. Years after "Lost in Space,” Kristen visited her birth
mother in Europe, eventually meeting some of the nine siblings she never knew she had.
Kristen made an appearance in the 1998 feature film adaptation of "Lost in Space." She also
remained active in TV series, commercials, and Los Angeles area theater. More recently,
she played a recurring role in the series "The Vamps Next Door," and
continues to coach young actors according to Pop Entertainment.
Though barely a teen when he played Will Robinson on "Lost in Space," Bill Mumy had
been acting since the age of three. He was unforgettable in "Alfred Hitchcock
Presents" as a boy who innocently finds his parents' gun. He was chilling as Anthony
Fremont in the much-imitated episode of "The Twilight Zone," "It's a Good Life."
"You're a bad man. You're a very bad man! And you keep thinking bad thoughts about me!"
Whether it was "The Munsters," "Bewitched," or "Sammy,
the Way-Out Seal," Mumy seemed ideal to fill a role wherever a precocious lad was needed.
As an adult actor, Mumy continued his science fiction career. In addition
to "Lost in Space," he's also well-known for playing Lennier,
an intergalactic political aide on the popular series, "Babylon 5."
Mumy has also gained a following as an accomplished musician, composer,
and a solo artist. He and his childhood friend created the novelty hit "Fish Heads''
as the duo Barnes and Barnes, which gained popularity on the Dr. Demento radio show,
according to the Dr. Demento website. Mumy also released children's albums for Rhino Records,
including "The Yogi Bear Environmental Album'' starring the signature Hanna-Barbera character.
Bill Mumy also composed over one hundred songs for the Disney series "Adventures
in Wonderland." His work on the show earned him a Daytime Emmy
Award nomination for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition.
British-born Angela Cartwright was no stranger to television performance when she blasted off
as Penny Robinson in "Lost in Space." From the age of five, Cartwright appeared as Linda Williams in
"Make Room for Daddy," also known as "The Danny Thomas Show." A decade later, she found herself
dancing with Julie Andrews and the other Von Trapps as Brigitta in "The Sound of Music."
Cartwright followed her time on "Lost In Space" with further TV appearances
including a revival of "Make Room for Daddy" called "Make Room for Granddaddy."
Cartwright also participated in reunions with her fellow "Lost in Space" friends
as yet another original cast cameo in the 1998 "Lost In Space" movie.
Over the past several decades, Cartwright has become much more renowned for her work
as a photographer and artist and released several books on photography and cinema.
Many of her fans think of her as an artist first, and some don't even
connect her with "Lost in Space" or "The Sound of Music." In 2016, Cartwright also
published a "Lost in Space" photo collection in collaboration with her costar, Bill Mumy.
Dr. Zachary Smith, whose sabotage sent the Robinsons off course,
was played by the versatile Jonathan Harris. Before "Lost in Space," his
credits were primarily dramatic roles on "The Twilight Zone" and "The Third
Man," with some comedic turns on "Father Knows Best," and "The Bill Dana Show."
To prevent the original plan of Dr. Smith being killed off on "Lost in
Space," he deliberately transformed the character from an evil, calculating
villain to a weak-willed mischief-maker. Producer Irwin Allen and the CBS network
loved it. The lighter tone lessened the violence of this family-based series.
Harris continued to steadily work after "Lost in Space'' on
TV series like "Sanford and Son" and "Get Smart."
His voice acting career began in 1968 at Hanna-Barbera, where he voiced Athos in
"The Three Musketeers''. He also contributed his voice to an animated version of "Lost in Space."
Harris began an association with the Filmation studio when he provided his voice for 1973's
"My Favorite Martians," a cartoon based on the 60s sitcom "My Favorite Martian." Before long, Harris'
voice was unmistakable across hundreds of cartoon performances, including appearances in "Superman:
The Animated Series," and "Darkwing Duck." His career also extended to Disney Pixar films,
where he voiced Manny the praying mantis in "A Bug's Life" and the Cleaner in "Toy Story 2."
"Yet again, it is up to me to rescue the performance."
Harris was also a Saturday morning TV fixture in live-action and animation, performing on shows
such as "Uncle Croc's Block," and furthering his sci-fi resume on "Space Academy," and "Ark II."
Sadly, Harris passed away in 2002, leaving an unparalleled legacy behind.
Some "Lost in Space" viewers might be surprised to discover that there was a real person tucked
away inside the Robot, maneuvering it on the set. This role was filled by actor Bob May,
who used his experience on the theater stage to give life to the computerized character.
May's non-robot screen credits include playing a clown in the 1980 Jerry Lewis film "Hardly
Working." May passed in 2009, according to The Los Angeles Times, but the Robot's legacy lives on. It
was physically taxing to bring visual life to the mechanical member of the Jupiter II crew. Despite
the challenge, May's efforts helped give the Robot a personality that millions came to care about.
"You mean you think you're gonna cry?"
"Yes. Please leave me. I do not want you to see me in this condition."
The Robot's personality also came from his voice, provided by legendary actor and announcer Dick
Tufeld. He was also the narrator of "Lost in Space." Tufeld's distinctive voice was a TV
favorite on countless series including "Surfside 6," and "The Gallant Men,",
After "Lost in Space," Tufeld was the announcer on "The Time Tunnel," "The Julie Andrews Hour,"
and "Peyton Place." Tufeld's numerous cartoon credits include "Spider-Man and
His Amazing Friends" and "Super Friends - The Legendary Super Powers Show." As the Robot,
Tufeld was heard on "The Simpsons" and in the 1998 film version of "Lost in Space."
Tufeld continued to work as one of Disney's most familiar announcers throughout the late
twentieth century, narrating the Walt Disney World parade broadcasts on ABC. He passed away in 2012.
Debbie the Bloop was "Lost in Space's" simian semi-regular. She was rescued
from a spaceship crash and became Penny Robinson's adoptive pet and best friend.
Debbie was played by Judy the Chimpanzee. After her screen debut in Disney's "The Misadventures
of Merlin Jones" and its sequel, "The Monkey's Uncle," Judy was the toast of Hollywood,
appearing on "The Addams Family," "Flipper," and "The Munsters."
Judy was also a regular on "Daktari," a series about a veterinary clinic in Africa. In 1969,
the Ocala Star-Banner reports that Judy also joined over two dozen animal actors
in a Florida training school that would later become Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
Joe E. Tata appeared regularly on "Lost in Space," portraying one of the infamous
"space hippies." He also had several roles in "Lost in Space's" Wednesday night competition,
"Batman." In addition to series like "Hunter," and "The Rockford Files,'' he's best known
to "Beverly Hills, 90210" fans as Nat, the warm-hearted owner of the Peach Pit diner.
Tata later guest starred on TV's "Charmed," and returned as Nat in the 2008 "90210" reboot.
Tata passed away in August 2022 after a long bout with Alzheimer's disease, according to CNN.
Bart La Rue was seen in a number of roles in sixties TV hits like "Mission:
Impossible" and "Star Trek: The Original Series." His baritone was heard in three "Lost in Space"
episodes, including this classic in which the Robinsons returned to earth, but back in 1947:
"It is believed that the occupants of the
unidentified object are dangerous emissaries of a world not our own."
In addition to "Star Trek" and "Lost in Space", La Rue also provided his voice in "Medical
Center" and "Land of the Giants." On camera, he appeared in popular series like "The Brady Bunch."
La Rue was also a writer, producer, director, and narrator of the 1979 horror film, "Satan War" and
the 1975 documentary "The Ark of Noah," which he also narrated. La Rue passed away in 1990.