Read this this morning along with the news about the Ravens losing to
Pittsburgh.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBIT_MAY?SITE=WBAL&SECTION=NATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
(Pasted for your convenience)
'Lost in Space' actor Bob May dies at 69 in Calif
Latest TV News
'Lost in Space' actor Bob May dies at 69 in Calif.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Bob May, who donned The Robot's suit in the hit
1960s television show "Lost in Space," has died. He was 69.
May died Sunday of congestive heart failure at a hospital in
Lancaster, said his daughter, Deborah May.
He was a veteran actor and stuntman who had appeared in movies, TV
shows and on the vaudeville stage when he was tapped by "Lost in
Space" creator Irwin Allen to play the Robinson family's loyal metal
sidekick in the series that debuted in 1965.
"He always said he got the job because he fit in the robot suit," said
June Lockhart, who played family matriarch Maureen Robinson. "It was
one of those wonderful Hollywood stories. He just happened to be on
the studio lot when someone saw him and sent him to see Irwin Allen
about the part. Allen said, 'If you can fit in the suit, you've got
the job.'"
Although May didn't provide the robot's distinctive voice (that was
done by announcer Dick Tufeld), he developed a following of fans who
sought him out at memorabilia shows.
"Lost in Space" was a space-age retelling of "The Swiss Family
Robinson" story in which professor John Robinson, his wife and their
children were on a space mission when their craft was knocked
hopelessly off course by the evil Dr. Zachary Smith, who became
trapped in space with them.
May's robot was the Robinson family's loyal sidekick, warning them of
approaching disaster at every turn. His line to one of the children,
"Danger, Will Robinson," became a national catch phrase.
The grandson of famed vaudeville comedian Chic Johnson, May was
introduced to show business at age 2 when he began appearing in the
"Hellzapoppin" comedy revue with Johnson and his partner, Ole Olsen.
He went on to appear in numerous films with Jerry Lewis and in such TV
shows as "The Time Tunnel," "McHale's Navy and "The Red Skelton Show."
He was also a stuntman in such 1950s and '60s TV shows as "Cheyenne,"
"Surfside 6," "Hawaiian Eye," "The Roaring 20s" and "Stagecoach."
He was particularly fond of his Robot role, once saying he came to
consider the suit a "home away from home."
Lockhart said May wore the suit for hours at a time and learned the
lines of every actor in the show so he would know when to respond to
their cues. Because it wasn't easy to get in and out of the suit, he
kept it on during breaks.
"He was a smoker," Lockhart remembered. "From time to time (when he
was on a break), we'd see smoke coming out of the robot. That always
amused us."
May and his wife lost their house in November when a wildfire
destroyed their upscale mobile home park in the San Fernando Valley.
Survivors include his wife Judith; his daughter; his son, Martin; and
four grandchildren.
Funeral services are pending.
On Jan 19, 6:36=A0pm, Steve Turner <[email protected]> wrote:
> MB wrote:
> > So how is this any more relevant to a Frank Zappa group?
>
> Frank was known to utter the phrase "Danger, Will Robinson!" in various
> musical contexts...
>
> --
> Free bad advice available here.
> To reply, eat the taco.http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/
Hey Steve,
Thanks for filling in for me while I was at work.
Marc
marc rosen <[email protected]> wrote in news:6b859a6b-b53e-4dca-beaa-
[email protected]:
> My apologies, fellow woodworkers. This was supposed to post to my Alt
> Fans Frank Zappa group. Sorry about the misplacement.
> Marc
Well, I'm sorry he died so young. Since I arrived in the States at the end
of '69, the series was a bit beyond me.
--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid
marc rosen wrote:
> My apologies, fellow woodworkers. This was supposed to post to my Alt
> Fans Frank Zappa group. Sorry about the misplacement.
> Marc
Marc;
Why be sorry. Yes it's very off topic but I greatly appreciate being
informed of this loss.
The family has my very deep condolences and my thanks to Bob for his
performances.
Dave Nagel
St. Louis