Lost in Space Star Bob May Dies at 69
Bob May
Bob May, best known as The Robot on the 1960s television series Lost in Space, has died. He was 69.
May passed away Sunday of congestive heart failure at a Lancaster, Calif., hospital, his daughter, Deborah May, said.
A veteran actor and stuntman, May was the grandson of vaudeville comedian Chic Johnson, who recruited a 2-year-old May to appear in his comedy revue Hellzapoppin.
After following in his grandfather's vaudeville footsteps, May eventually broke out in numerous television series, including The Time Tunnel, McHale's Navy and The Red Skelton Show. In the 1950s and '60s, he worked as a stuntman on Cheyenne, Surfside 6, Hawaiian Eye, The Roaring 20s and Stagecoach.
In 1965, May was tapped to portray the loyal sidekick Robot on Irwin Allen's Lost in Space, where the legendary catchphrase "Danger, Will Robinson" originated.
May is survived by his wife, Judith; a daughter, Deborah; a son, Martin; and four grandchildren.
