Many of you will remember actor and stuntman Bob May, best known for donning The Robot’s suit in the hit 1960s TV show Lost in Space. Unfortunately, Bob passed away this week at the age of 69 due to congestive heart failure, at a hospital in  Los Angeles. He was particularly fond of his Robot role, once saying he came to consider the suit a “home away from home”. If you need proof, you might like to know that May wore the suit for hours and learned the lines of every actor in the show so he would know when to respond to them.

The story of how he came to play his character is one of those sweet stories which makes you green with envy. June Lockhart, who played family matriarch Maureen Robinson in the show explains:

“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 [producer] Irwin Allen about the part. Allen said ‘If you can fit in the suit, you’ve got the job’.”

For those who aren’t au fait with the storyline, Lost in Space was a space-age story about the Robinson family who were on a mission when they became trapped in space. The Robot – which was the character played by May – was the Robinson family’s loyal sidekick, warning them of approaching disaster at every turn, although May did not provide the voice to the character. (It’s a James Earl Jones thing.)

It’s nice to know that he will be remembered for his work though, long after he has gone. Deepest sympathies to his family.

What a year 2009 is turning out to be – losses all around. Let’s hope the future news is a little less morose.

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