June Lockhart

If America had a Mom, she would probably be June Lockhart. Few can convey maternal munificence with the conviction of this ever perky, poised and pretty player of stage, film and especially TV. Lockhart grew from child player to ingenue in supporting roles in "A" pictures and leads in "B" movies. The daughter of character actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, she made her stage debut at age eight and entered films at age 12 with the 1938 version of "A Christmas Carol" (in which her parents also acted). Lockhart won acclaim on the NYC stage in the late 40s, honed her craft on early live TV (gaining a 1952 Emmy nod for Best Actress) and found stardom playing warmly nurturing mothers on TV in the late 50s and 60s, most indelibly on "Lassie" (CBS, 1968-64) and "Lost in Space" (CBS, 1965-68).