Jon Provost Talks Life With Lassie

Jon Provost Talks Life With Lassie

Issue 93

• Feature
• by Laurie Jacobsen

What’s That Girl? 
Timmy Has a New Pet Product?

by Laurie Jacobson

Jon Provost never dreamed that 60-plus years after he starred as Timmy on “Lassie,” people in more than 50 countries would still be watching the show. “I hear from fans the world over who watch it now with their kids and grandkids; and I am so proud of the legacy.”  The checked shirt and jeans he wore on the show hang in The Smithsonian next to Archie Bunker’s chair. “It’s a wonderful show. I loved working on it. The cast and crew were great to me, a second family, and, of course, I adored Lassie.”  

Jon was already a seasoned professional when he won the role of Timmy at age seven.  He started his career at two-and-a-half and had been in ten films and some live television with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including: Jane Wyman, Sterling Hayden, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Rod Steiger, Anita Ekberg, Clint Eastwood, William Holden and more.

The producers of “Lassie” knew Jon could act, but how did he feel about big dogs? Not an issue. Jon was raised with all sorts of animals: dogs, cats, a goat, a horse. As part of his audition, he stayed for a few days at the ranch of Lassie’s owner, legendary trainer Rudd Weatherwax. At the end of his visit, Lassie gave Jon two paws up.

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