‘Lost in Space’ robot actor Bob May dies

by Glenn Hauman on January 19th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Posted In: News

You probably never knew his face. You don’t remember his voice, you always thought it was Dick Tufeld’s. But you knew his most famous role just the same.

From the AP wire: ‘Lost in Space’ actor Bob May dies at 69

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.’"

While in this day and age you can purchase a replica, it’s never quite the same as the original.