Mark Goddard, the acclaimed actor best known for his role as Maj. Don West in the beloved 1960s science fiction series “Lost in Space,” passed away on Tuesday due to pulmonary fibrosis. His wife, Evelyn Pezzluich, shared the news on Facebook, revealing that Goddard, 87, had been hospitalized with pneumonia after celebrating his birthday. Doctors later discovered that he was in the advanced stages of pulmonary fibrosis.
From 1965 to 1968, Goddard captivated audiences as Maj. Don West in the hit CBS series, which followed the Robinson family’s adventures alongside a talking robot and the mischievous Dr. Smith. After their spaceship, the Jupiter 2, veered off course, the group found themselves stranded on a distant planet instead of their intended destination, the Alpha Centauri system. The show, created by renowned producer Irwin Allen, became known for popularizing the catchphrase, “danger, Will Robinson.”
Surprisingly, Goddard initially had reservations about taking on the role in “Lost in Space.” In 1990, he confessed, “I didn’t want to do it. Now, the reason I didn’t want to do the series at first is because I had never done science fiction, and had no idea what it was going to be like.”
During the 1960s, Goddard also appeared in various films, including “The Monkey’s Uncle” and “A Rage to Live.” After “Lost in Space,” he made frequent guest appearances on popular TV shows such as “Mod Squad” and “The Streets of San Francisco.” He even ventured into the world of soap operas by appearing in “One Life to Live” and “General Hospital.” In 1977, Goddard starred in the horror film “Blue Sunshine.”
Goddard’s “Lost in Space” co-star, Bill Mumy, expressed his grief over the loss on Facebook, saying, “R.I.P. to Mark Goddard. A truly beloved friend and brother to me for 59 years. I knew this was coming for the past few months. Shortly after a great phone chat he and I had on his 87th birthday in late July, I became aware that I would most likely never see or speak with him again. The last words we exchanged were ‘I love you.'”
Born Charles Harvey Goddard in Lowell, Massachusetts, on July 24, 1936, the actor was the youngest of five children. He grew up in Scituate, Massachusetts, where his parents owned a local five-and-dime store. Goddard attended Holy Cross College in Worcester and initially aspired to become a professional basketball player. However, after discovering his passion for acting in 1957, he ventured to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. In 1959, Goddard made his way to Los Angeles, where he soon secured roles on TV shows like “Perry Mason,” “The Rifleman,” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
While Goddard’s acting career experienced ups and downs over the years, he continued to appear in TV shows and films. In 1998, he made a cameo in the film adaptation of “Lost in Space.” In 2009, he released his memoir, titled “To Space and Back.” At the age of 55, in 1991, Goddard decided to pursue a different path and earned a master’s degree in education from Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. He eventually became a special education teacher.
Throughout his life, Goddard was married three times, with his second wife being actress Susan Anspach. Pezzluich eulogized her late husband on Facebook, writing, “I’ll never know how I deserved to spend 33 years with such a loving, gentle, handsome man who made me laugh so often.”
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