Ruth Martin (Lassie)

Ruth Martin (Lassie)

Ruth Martin is a fictional character on the long-running television series, Lassie (1954–1973). She was briefly played by Cloris Leachman before June Lockhart stepped into the role. The character makes her first appearance mid-fourth season (1957) and her last in the first episode of the eleventh season (1964); she appears in 208 episodes in total.

Ruth is married to Paul Martin, an agricultural school graduate and a farmer. The couple buys a small farm and adopt Timmy, a foster child living on the farm. Ruth is portrayed as a practical, competent woman, a loving wife and mother, and an active community member.

In 1957, Cloris Leachman joined the cast as Ruth but eventually her feuds with co-stars, her unwillingness to sign a contract, and other troubles forced show producer Jack Wrather to fire her at the close of the season's filming. June Lockhart replaced her at the top of the 1958 season and remained in the role until the cancellation of her character in the first episode of the 1964 season.

Lockhart appeared as Ruth Martin in Campbell's Soup commercials, a feature film edited from a multi-part episode of the television show, and show-related merchandise such as Whitman novels and Dell comic books. The actress received an Emmy nomination for her performance in the role in 1959.