If you watched the popular TV show “Lassie” while growing up in the 1950s (or the reruns in the 1960s and 1970s), you’ll know exactly who Jon Provost is, even if you don’t happen to remember his name. Jon played the role of Lassie’s beloved companion, the little boy named Little Timmy Martin. Well, as it turns out, Little Timmy is now in his 70s and you may not recognize him from the TV show. However, if you look closely enough, you’ll still see that sweet smile and the twinkle in his eye. Jon fondly remembers the days of filming Lassie and his affection for the famous dog. He even says that the actors in the show made more mistakes than Lassie did.
Jon says that he and Lassie actually enjoyed the show. Lassie had already performed in four seasons when Timmy joined the cast at the tender age of seven years old. However, Timmy soon became a favorite of fans and an integral and important part of the show’s storyline, so his role in the series quickly became a prominent one. What a lot of people don’t realize is that Lassie wasn’t just one dog. In his time on the show, John worked with three different Lassies and he still holds the show very near and dear to his heart. When he became a teenager, John left the show, but the series continued to be hugely popular and even earned a radio show at one point.
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In spite of leaving the show, Jon’s fondness for the epic classic series never faltered, and his fans still recognize him after all these years. He was actually surprised when people came up to him saying that they still loved the show after all these years and many fans credit Jon’s role for making them love the show. It’s not unusual for a fan to thank him for being a part of such a beloved series. Some fans even say that the show made them become Collie lovers. Collie is the breed of dog that Lassie is. Jon has continued his acting career and even started in a film called “Susie’s Hope” in 2013. In 2007, he published his memoir in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his role as Timmy.
The popular show was inspired by the Nigel Clarke book “The Shipwreck Guide to Dorset and South Devon.” The book’s story follows the life of another dog named Lassie who enjoys a wonderful life on the coast of England and even saves the life of a sailor. Watch this video below. It’s guaranteed to bring back memories to all Lassie fans everywhere. This is the clip that has a “Lone Ranger” snippet.
