Spencer Milligan, who starred in the first two seasons of the 1970s kids show Land of the Lost, has died at the age of 86, TVLine has confirmed.
Milligan died on April 18, according to an obituary published by Huehns Funeral Home in his adopted hometown of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Wesley Eure, who played his son Will on Land of the Lost, paid tribute to Milligan in a Facebook post: “For many of us, and Spencer’s many fans, he was the perfect dad. We loved his kindness, talent and huge sense of humor… Our hearts go out to his lovely wife and Spencer’s many friends and family.”
Land of the Lost, produced by ’70s TV staples Sid and Marty Krofft, starred Milligan as dad Rick Marshall, who was transported back to prehistoric times along with his son Will and daughter Holly. There, they contended with dinosaurs, hissing lizard men known as Sleestak and ape-like primates called Pakuni, including one named Cha-Ka who befriended the Marshalls and eventually learned to speak English.
Milligan left the series after two seasons after demanding that he and the cast be compensated for the show’s various merchandising endeavors, including lunch boxes, coloring books and board games. He was replaced by Ron Harper, who played Will and Holly’s uncle Jack in the third and final season. (Harper passed away in March.)
Milligan’s other TV credits include episodes of Gunsmoke, Alice, Quincy M.E. and The Bionic Woman, along with a 1987 arc on the daytime soap General Hospital.
I was a kid who watched Land of the Lost over and over and over. Has it been 50 years? You always wonder what happens to actors from far and away. Happy to hear Mr. Milligan lived long and is well remembered.
I’d watch Land of the Lost
when I was a little girl.
It was such a good show.
Spencer Milligan rest in
peace 🕊️.
I was just watching some old clips from the show. The Sleestack terrified me when I was a kid. Such a cheesy, fun show. RIP Rick Marshall.
He died just a few weeks after Ron Harper (his Land of the Lost replacement).
RIP
As a kid in the 70’s, I loved Saturday mornings. While this show would be considered pretty hokey today, it was great entertainment back then. Remember the lunch boxes well.
I watched the newer Land of the Lost in the 90’s Saturday Mornings. I caught this original series in reruns later 90’s when Nick @ Nite was airing old SId and Marty Croft kid shows.
Milligan was right, the actors should have been compensated, and if they had been, he would’ve stayed on the show, and that 3rd season might not have been it’s last one. 🤷♂️
Loved this show as a kid. Even dressed as a Sleestak for Halloween one year.. which was just the plastic mask held on by a rubber band and a plastic yellow shirt/cape that was probably highly flammable.