‘Land Of The Lost’ Cast: Marshall, Will & Holly, Where Are They Now?
Land of the Lost was a beloved, if not a little odd, children’s television series that first ran from 1974 to 1976, following the Marshall family as they navigated a strange world full of dinosaurs and Sleestaks. It was produced by brothers Sid and Marty Krofft, also responsible for shows such as H.R. Pufnstuf. While the show was remade in 1991 and adapted into a movie in 2009, we are still left wondering, what happened to the cast of the original Land of the Lost series? Let’s find out! But first, that catchy theme song.
Spencer Milligan (Rick Marshall)
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Everett Collection/Wesley Eure/via Facebook/popconmilwaukee
Milligan is best known for his role as Rick Marshall in Land of the Lost and the show never recovered when he left after season two. He once said that he left the show due to an argument with the executives. He explained, “We had a difference of opinion, let’s put it this way, on using my face for stuff and paying me — lunch boxes, compasses — where they were selling them and I thought it was only fair that everyone should get their fair share.”
He appeared in Quincy M.E., Gunsmoke, The Bionic Woman, Alice, and General Hospital, but his acting career pretty much ended in the 1980s. These days, he lives in Wisconsin and teaches acting and directs some local plays.
Wesley Eure (Will Marshall)
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Everett Collection/Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Eure wanted to be an actor since he was a little kid and got his dream when he was cast as the neighbor on The Partridge Family as a teen. In the ’70s, he not only appeared on Land of the Lost but in the soap opera Days of Our Lives. In the ’80s, he hosted the Nickelodeon game show Finders Keepers and in the ’90s, co-created the show Dragon Tales for PBS.
In his personal life, he had a secret relationship with actor Richard Chamberlain. When his acting career stalled a bit, Eure proved that he is very multi-talented and focused on music, writing books, and raising money for charities such as the March of Dimes. He also appeared in stage shows and musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and founded the company Games at Sea, directing on-board entertainment for big-name cruise ships.
Kathy Coleman (Holly Marshall)
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Everett Collection/Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
Her first and most well-known role was as Holly in Land of the Lost. She stopped acting after the show but later wrote a book about her experience titled “Run Holly Run.” She also wrote another memoir about her abusive marriages and experiences on TV called “Lost Girl: The Truth and Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Kathleen.” Coleman appeared on an episode of Adam-12 and in 2020 had a part in a TV movie called Fault.
Coleman and Eure filmed a cameo for the 2009 Land of the Lost movie but unfortunately, it didn’t make the cut. She said of her former co-stars, “It was amazing. And even today, we’re as close as we can be. It’s like having a second family. When you’re doing a show, you don’t always expect to get along with everybody. But we got along famously. We’ve been getting together to do Comic-Con and travel the country for the last eight years to meet with fans.”
Phillip Paley (Cha-Ka)
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Everett Collection/Bobby Bank/Getty Images
Best known as the creature Cha-Ka, he was only 10 when the show began. He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, showing off his karate black belt skills. Later, he appeared in an episode of Airwolf and in the movie Beach Balls. While he retired from acting in the 1980s, he still loves to meet fans and attend comic conventions. According to his Instagram page, he seems to have a passion for raising butterflies.
Ron Harper (Jack Marshall)
d. 2024
Everett Collection/Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
When Milligan left the show, Ron Harper took over as Uncle Jack Marshall in season three. He also appeared in the TV version of Planet of the Apes, starred in the soap opera Generations, and appeared in the 2001 film Pearl Harbor. He passed away in March 2024.
Who was your favorite character in Land of the Lost? Did you see any of the remakes?
Remind
1974 (50 Years Ago)
January 2024
In this time capsule issue of ReMIND Magazine we look back 50 years ago to 1974!
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