Introduction

Kathleen Lockhart may not be a household name today, but her influence runs deep in Hollywood’s golden age. As the matriarch who nurtured a family of performers and the mother of screen legend June Lockhart, Kathleen’s journey—from Southsea, England to the streets of Hollywood—offers a compelling portrait of strength, artistry and quiet legacy.

Early Life and Background

Kathleen Lockhart, born Kathleen Arthur on August 9, 1894 in Southsea, Hampshire, England, began life far from the Hollywood spotlight. Growing up in England, she trained in theatre and music before emigrating to the United States. Her early years reflect not only ambition, but a readiness to cross continents for art and opportunity. This bold move would set the stage for decades of work in the American film industry.

Family, Parents and Siblings

Kathleen married actor Gene Lockhart in 1924 and the couple made their way to Hollywood in the 1930s. Together they raised a daughter, June Lockhart, who would become a television icon. Through this union, Kathleen became part of a multi-generational acting dynasty—grandmother to Anne Lockhart and Lizabeth Lockhart. While Kathleen’s own family of origin remains less documented, her role in building a creative lineage is unmistakable.

Education

Details of Kathleen Lockhart’s formal education are limited in public archives, but her proficiency in stage performing and music suggests formal training in England’s theatrical traditions. Her early work on stage led naturally into her film career, showing a transition from theatre to cinema during a pivotal era in performing arts.

Career or Profession

Kathleen Lockhart built a substantial acting résumé, spanning nearly four decades. Beginning on the British stage, she moved to Hollywood and appeared in over thirty films. Notably, she and her husband played Mr. and Mrs. Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (1938). Although she retired in the late 1950s—after her husband’s death in 1957—her performances left a lasting impression. She earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6241 Hollywood Blvd. Her career stands as a testament to immigrant ambition, craft, and longevity.

Relationship or Personal Life

Kathleen’s marriage to Gene Lockhart lasted until his death in 1957, a partnership that ran both personal and professional. Through their daughter June’s success, Kathleen’s influence extended into generations. Their home life blended acting schedules, family responsibilities and a transatlantic move—shaping June’s career and the wider Lockhart legacy.

Net Worth

Public records do not offer a reliable estimate of Kathleen Lockhart’s net worth. As a working actress in Hollywood’s mid-century era, her earnings were modest compared to today’s standards. Her value lies more in career longevity, legacy, and the family foundation she helped build than in documented financial metrics.

Interesting Facts

• Kathleen and Gene Lockhart starred alongside their daughter June in A Christmas Carol (1938), making it one of the rare family film casts.

• She immigrated to the U.S. in 1924, embracing a new life in Hollywood during the transition from silent to sound film.

• Although an actress of her time, she stepped back from acting after her husband’s death and enjoyed relative privacy in her later years.

• She died February 18, 1978 in Los Angeles after a long illness and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City—a resting place of many Hollywood legends.

 

Social Media Presence

Kathleen Lockhart passed away in 1978, long before the age of social media, and therefore she does not have personal active profiles. Her legacy resides through film archives, family history and mentions in family-heritage pieces about the Lockhart family.

Recent News or Updates

Following the passing of June Lockhart in October 2025 at age 100, writers revisited Kathleen’s role in the Lockhart family history. These mentions renewed interest in her early career, her migration story and how she laid roots for future generations of actors.

Why Kathleen Lockhart Matters

Kathleen Lockhart matters because she represents the bridge between old-world stage tradition and American screen storytelling. Her journey—from Hampshire to Hollywood, from stage to screen, from mother to legacy-bearer—offers a rich case study of migration, artistry and family continuity. As we remember June and the subsequent Lockhart generations, we must also remember the matriarch whose foundation made it possible.

FAQ — Kathleen Lockhart

Q: Who was Kathleen Lockhart?
A: She was an English-born actress, mother of June Lockhart and part of the Hollywood Lockhart family.
Q: When and where was she born?
A: Born August 9, 1894 in Southsea, Hampshire, England.
Q: What were her notable roles?
A: She appeared in films such as A Christmas Carol (1938) and Roughly Speaking (1945), among over thirty film credits.
Q: How is she related to June Lockhart?
A: She was June’s mother and grandmother to Anne Lockhart—the Lockhart acting lineage spans across generations.
Q: Why is she in the news now?
A: With the passing of June Lockhart in October 2025, media revisited Kathleen’s contribution to the family’s legacy and Hollywood history.