For almost twenty years, many of us remember watching the adventures of TV’s most famous dog – Lassie.
This beloved Rough Collie and her human friends were on our screens for 17 seasons, from 1954 to 1973. The show even switched from black and white to color in the 1960s.
But one of the most unforgettable parts of the show was when 7-year-old Timmy Martin joined in the fourth season. Timmy and his family adopted Lassie, creating some of the most memorable moments in the series.
Jon Provost, who played Timmy on *Lassie*, just celebrated his 74th birthday. He looks back fondly on his time filming with his four-legged co-star and remembers how Hollywood discovered him at only 3 years old.
The actor, born in Los Angeles, recalls that when he was 3, his mom took him to an audition for a Jane Wyman movie. She was a huge fan and just wanted her autograph. But out of 200 kids, Jon got the part.
Acting wasn’t something that ran in the family. Jon’s father had a completely different job—he was an aeronautical engineer.
“My parents weren’t Hollywood people,” Jon said. “My father is from Alabama, and my mother is from Texas.”
At age 4, Jon Provost landed a role in a movie with Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby.
“I didn’t have an agent at the time. After that, I got one, and it led to more movies like *The Country Girl* with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly. I did about 12 movies before I started *Lassie*,” he told Fox News.
Jon also shared memories of working with the three different male dogs who played the role of Lassie. He said he formed a special bond with the last dog who portrayed the famous female collie.
“I did the show for seven years, filming 249 half-hour episodes. I worked with three different Lassies,” Jon Provost told Fox News.
He shared that the last dog he worked with was by his side for five years straight. “We grew up together. For five years, we saw each other five days a week, and sometimes even on weekends.”
Jon also revealed how well-behaved the dog was on set. “The actors made more mistakes than the dog,” he laughed. “They were more of a problem than Lassie.”
After leaving *Lassie* at 14 years old, Jon Provost went on to star with big names like Natalie Wood and Kurt Russell. Despite growing up in Hollywood, he avoided the common pitfalls many child actors face.
“My parents let me pretty much do what I wanted to do. I didn’t have to take a job,” Jon said.
Looking back, he added, “When I left Hollywood, I thought it was good that I did.”
Today, Jon lives away from the spotlight in Northern California but still receives fan mail from his time on *Lassie*. In 1994, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The character Lassie became so famous that she even had her own radio series.
In 1979, Jon married Sandy Goosens, and they had two children, Ryan and Katie. However, after 14 years of marriage, they divorced in December 1993.
In 1999, Jon found love again when he married Laurie Jacobson, a well-known researcher and author.
I’ve always been a big fan of the adventures this sweet duo went on. And with a moral in every episode, it was the perfect show for kids.
Please share this with all the *Lassie* fans you know.
Log cabin on 15 acres in the North Carolina mountains، Circa 1798. $249,000
This is very fantastic! Pleasant neighborhood near Boone! This cabin was built in 1798! It is located on 15 acres near Creston, North Carolina.
The home features a covered front porch, a stone fireplace, stacked stone chimney, hardwood floors, and a loft area. The property has two ponds, a creek, a barn, and a storage building. 1,360 square feet with two bedrooms and one bathroom. $249,00
Obtain ownership of a unique piece of Appalachian heritage! This 15-acre log cabin was built in 1798 and features two bedrooms and one bathroom. Maybe it’s the oldest cabin in High County that’s still in use! With its enormous stone fireplace and chimney with gas logs, hand-hewn 2-foot-wide logs, refurbished, spacious kitchen and laundry area, and hardwood floors throughout, this cabin is beautiful.
Unexpected events have delayed interior renovations, which include new lights, wiring, tongue and groove walls, and a sliding barn door.
This property has 1500 feet of concrete road frontage, two ponds, a creek, and a 16 by 20 storage building. There are multiple building sites with views spread out throughout the acres.
This area, on the North Fork of the New River, offers some of the best trout fishing in North Carolina. Mountain City, Tennessee, is 15 minutes distant, and Boone and West Jefferson are 30 minutes away. With a few updates and changes, this may become your ideal house!
A unique home and property with loads of possibilities!
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