Appreciation: Strong and warm, June Lockhart was a model of TV motherhood

Known for her approachable beauty – wide eyes, a cheerful nose, and a radiant smile that people always remembered – actress June Lockhart, who passed away Thursday at the age of 100, often portrayed strong female characters with a practical and optimistic spirit. While the roles she was offered were sometimes limited by the expectations for women on television at the time, she consistently showed characters who could handle any situation. Though she could be firm or emotional, she was largely seen as dependable and reassuring – qualities many people look for in a mother figure.







