'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQG/8QAIhAAAQMDAwUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEDBAAFEQcSFCEiMUFR/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwT/xAAbEQACAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEDITJxgf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AzuhNumy5dzejGwLQtg0pGqoYkR9uMJ1T7mqJOk19akut8m1JtNRwDjiCmF9Js8UpQUs2nRc1ljp//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
June Lockhart of Lost in Space and Lassie fame joined the cast of General Hospital in 1984 as Mariah Ramirez, grandmother of Felicia Cummings, played by Kristina Wagner. Now, Wagner is paying tribute to her TV grandma on the occasion of her 100th birthday!
Centennial Celebration, June Lockhart of General Hospital
"Happy 100th Birthday, June Lockhart! Amazing from the moment I met her 40 years ago," Wagner wrote on X, reposting a tweet from KCGuy, who shared an image of Wagner and Lockhart from General Hospital in 1984.
The beloved actress spent the day with her daughter and granddaughter. Her daughter made her a cheesecake -- her favorite.
In an interview with Eileen Prose, host of Good Day! on WCVB-TV in Boston, Lockhart was asked about coming onto daytime drama at a time when it was en vogue for film and primetime stars to do a soap opera.
"I sought it out, as a matter of fact," Lockhart told Prose about how she came to be cast on General Hospital. "I wanted to do a soap opera for a long time. I have never done one. I thought it was something I ought to get into! Of course, if you're going to do one, why not do the best? GH is the best..."
Of the late Gloria Monty, who was producing GH when Mariah came onto the show, Lockhart raved, "What a great woman!" She adds: "The part came up. I read for it. Then, they hired me. There was no question as to whether or not I'd do it."
Lassie to Lost in Space to General Hospital
Lockhart had a firm grasp of Mariah's backstory. She noted it was based, partially, on Maximilian I of Mexico. "Dig this!" Lockhart enthused. "I am a princess. I am the heir of Maximilian...the ruler of Mexico. I am a princess descended from that and so is my [grand]daughter Felicia, played by Kristina Malandro."
Veteran GH fans know that Maxie's (Kirsten Storms) full name is Mariah Maximiliana Jones. She was named after both Mariah and her great-grandfather, Maximilian.
Lockhart was born on June 25, 1925, in New York City, New York. Her parents were Gene Lockhart, a Canadian-American actor, and Kathleen Arthur Lockhart, who was born in England.
Lockhart attended the Westlake School for Girls in Beverly Hills, California. She made her film, A Christmas Carol, in 1938. After appearing in the film Lassie, Lockhart worked with the collie again in the TV series of the same name. Next came her role as matriarch June Robinson in Lost in Space. After the passing of Bea Bernadet (Kate), Lockhart was cast as Dr. Janet Craig for the final two seasons of the sitcom Petticoat Junction. Lockhart added nighttime soaps to her resume courtesy of her role as Dr. Sylvia Heywood on The Colbys in 1986.
Trending
Soap Central wishes Lockhart a happy 100th birthday.
Catch all-new episodes of General Hospital weekdays on ABC and Hulu
Reply
