DANGER! DANGER! 1960’s TV classic “Lost in Space” is turning 50! The National ENQUIRER launches a look at the crew of the star-faring Jupiter 2: Dr. John Robinson (Guy Williams), his wife Maureen Robinson (June Lockhart), Major Don West (Mark Goddard), Judy Robinson (Marta Kristen), Penny Robinson (Angela Cartwright), Will Robinson (Billy Mumy), Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris) and The Robot (Bob May).
JOHN & MAUREEN Before blasting off for Alpha Centauri, Guy Williams was best known as Disney’s TV “Zorro”. Guy went to his death at age 65 in 1989 convinced CBS ruined “Lost in Space” by shifting from serious sci-fi to silliness to compete with ABC’s campy hit “Batman.” But TV wife June Lockhart, 89, didn’t take it as seriously. June, who had played the mom on “Lassie,” says the “The Great Vegetable Rebellion” episode was a riot. “Every time somebody sat down, you took root,” she laughed.
WILL & PENNY “Danger, Will Robinson!” That was The Robot’s famed warning to the show’s youngest crewmember. BUT the real danger for Billy Mumy was “a lifelong crush” on his older TV sister, played by Angela Cartwright. “They attended school together on the 20th Century Fox lot,” an insider told The ENQUIRER. “In the 1970s, they were actually engaged. But Angela broke it off, telling Bill, ‘You’re never going to grow up!’” Bill, 60, and Angela, 62, later married others, each having two children.
MAJ. DON WEST & JUDY Blonde beauty Marta Kristen wanted an on-screen romance with rugged actor Mark Goddard but producers craved camp not kisses! The Norwegian beauty said: “I would have liked to have had the relationship with Mark develop more. A lot of the fans wanted that too. But producers didn’t want any gravitas.” Today, Marta, 69, is on her second marriage and Mark, 78, on his third.
DR. SMITH & THE ROBOT “Never fear, Smith is here” was Jonathan Harris’ trademark line. He increasing stole the show as the plots continually revolved around his memorable comic relief. Harris later taught drama before passing at age 87 in 2002. Bob May, a stunt actor, appeared in all 83 episodes inside the elaborate costume while The Robot’s voice was dubbed by the late Dick Tufeld. June Lockhart told The ENQUIRER when May died at age 69 in 2009, “Bob really gave a personality to that tin can he worked in.”
