On April 18, 2024, actor Spencer Milligan, widely recognized for his role as Rick Marshall in the 1970s television series “Land of the Lost,” passed away at his residence in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. He was 86.
Milligan was born on September 10, 1937, in Oak Park, Illinois. His interest in performing started early, captivating his peers with magic tricks. After his service in the U.S. Army, he decided to pursue acting and received training at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, the Joan Darling Actors Workshop in Los Angeles, California, and the Lee Strasberg Senior Workshop in New York City.
In 1974, Milligan secured the role of Rick Marshall in “Land of the Lost,” an NBC series created by Sid and Marty Krofft. Portraying a widowed park ranger who, along with his children, is transported to a prehistoric world, Milligan’s performance contributed to the show’s cult status. The show, which combined live-action and stop-motion animated dinosaurs, saw Milligan exit after two seasons due to a disagreement surrounding merchandise royalties.
His “Land of the Lost” co-stars, Wesley Eure and Kathy Coleman, paid touching tributes to him. Eure stated, “He truly was the dad everybody wanted to have.” Coleman echoed these sentiments, saying, “He not only became the father figure I needed but a father to all the other children in need of that missing puzzle piece.” Both co-stars highlighted Milligan’s kindness and humor.
Following “Land of the Lost,” Milligan featured in popular TV shows such as “Gunsmoke,” “The Bionic Woman,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and “Police Squad!” His last television appearance was in “General Hospital” in 1987. Later in life, he relocated to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, dedicating over two decades to instructing and directing at Third Avenue PlayWorks.
In a reflection on his career, Milligan remarked on his time on “Land of the Lost,” saying, “It’s part of my life. It’s not my full life. I did what I wanted to do, and that was it. At the time, I thought it was very good. We had some fun with it.”
Milligan is survived by his wife, Kerry, whom he met in 1991 and married in 2002, and his godchildren, Andee Solis, Hilary Williams, and Spencer Williams.