Very fine condition dual-signed photograph of Provost as Timmy, with Lassie

Jonathan Bion Provost, 1950–.  American actor.  8” x 10” photograph inscribed and signed, Jon Provost / “Timmy.”

This is a magnificent dual-signed photograph of the youthful Provost, in his role as Timmy Martin, with his co-star, Lassie, from the long-running television series Lassie.  Provost has inscribed and signed the photo “To Steve – / Best Wishes / Jon Provost / ‘Timmy’.” 

Provost joined Lassie at the beginning of its fourth season in 1957.  The show’s producers had to write the original character, Jeff Miller, out of the show because actor Tommy Rettig wanted to live a normal teenager’s life.  Provost came into the show in the first episode of 1957, “The Runaway,” as Timmy, whom the Millers found hiding in their barn.  Timmy became the fictional foster child of Ellen Miller, portrayed by actress Jan Clayton.  Later, when Rettig and Clayton left the show, Timmy was adopted by Paul and Ruth Martin (actor Hugh Reilly and actress June Lockhart), who bought the Miller farm. 

Timmy was an instant hit with audiences.  Lassie had its best television ratings in the years following his first appearance on the show.

Provost portrayed Timmy for seven seasons before leaving the show at age 14.  He appeared as Timmy in all 226 episodes of Lassie between his first and last appearances.  His last was the first episode of the 1964–1965 season.

After Lasssie, Provost continued to work in television and films.  He appeared with Natalie Wood and Robert Redford in This Property is Condemned and with Kurt Russell in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.  In 1989, he accepted a recurring role as real estate agent Steve McCullough on The New Lassie series.

In 1990, Provost received the Young Artist Foundation’s Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award for his role as Timmy in the original Lassie series.  He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.  His autobiography, Timmy’s In the Well, was published in 2007.

This photograph is in very fine condition.  Only notations in another hand at the top of the back side keep us from grading it extra fine.  It would be beautiful framed.

Unframed. Please ask us about custom framing this piece.