'Land of Giants' star has passed away at the age of 81

Deanna Lund, the American television and film actress, died on Friday, June 22, because of pancreatic cancer. Lund played Valerie Scott in the series Land of Giants, one of the greatest television hits of the late sixties.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lund was diagnosed with the terminal illness in September, and her condition worsened quickly after that, her daughter Michele Matheson told the news outlet.

Before reaching stardom with the popular science-fiction series, Lund made small sporadic roles in movies or TV series but it was not until 1966 when the actress began to cement her status as a TV star.

A year after taking the big leap, the actress was invited to participate in two episodes of the Batman series, which would be the prelude to her jump to Land of Giants, premiered in 1968. Read more on our Twitter account @amomama_usa

Following the cancellation of the series that made her famous, the actress married Don Matheson, her first and only husband, who she divorced in the mid-seventies. Matheson played the role of Mark Wilson in the series.

On the occasion of Don’s death at 84, his and Lund’s daughter told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014 that the former couple remained best friends for the rest of their lives.

‘They talked several times a day, laughed and drove each other nuts and lived across the street from one another or within a couple blocks for the last 35 years,’ Michele, also an actress, said back then.

During the 1990’s, the actress became engaged to TV host Larry King, although they never got to marry.

Apart from Michele, Lund is survived by her other daughter, Kimberly; her son, Randy; grandchildren Phyllis, Elizabeth, Shawn, Tyler, Ryan, Jack and Jolene; and great-grandchildren Ellie, Charlotte, and Quinn. May she rest in peace.