Lost in Space’s Mark Goddard Dead at 87
Mark Goddard, best known for playing Major Don West on CBS’ Lost in Space, died Tuesday at the age of 87. He passed away in Hingham, Mass., his wife Evelyn Pezzulich confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Goddard made his TV debut in 1959 on Johnny Ringo, in which he appeared for 38 episodes through 1960. His next major small-screen role followed immediately thereafter, playing Detective Sergeant Chris Ballard on The Detectives for 64 episodes (1960–1962). Prior to landing Lost in Space in 1965, Goddard kept plenty busy, making guest appearances on shows like The Rifleman, The Bill Dana Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason and The Fugitive, with a particularly notable stint as Many Happy Returns‘ Bob Randall for 26 episodes (1964–1965).
The actor’s post-Lost in Space career included appearances on The Mod Squad, Adam-12, Benson and The Doctors, among other memorable classics. Soap opera enthusiasts may also remembe his brief stints on both One Life to Live (as Ted Clayton in 1981) and General Hospital (as Derek Barrington from 1984 to 1986).
Goddard was one of several cast members from the original Lost in Space series to make a cameo appearance in the 1998 big-screen adaptation, in which the role of Major West was played by Friends‘ Matt LeBlanc. It would prove to be one of the actor’s final roles before his death.
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