Bob May (back left) landed the Robot part because he could fit in the suit

May died of congestive heart failure at a hospital in Lancaster, Los Angeles, his daughter Deborah said.

He was particularly fond of his Robot role, once saying he came to consider the suit a "home away from home".

May wore the suit for hours and learned the lines of every actor in the show so he would know when to respond to them.

Loyal sidekick

June Lockhart, who played family matriarch Maureen Robinson in the show, recalled how May had landed the job.

"It was one of those wonderful Hollywood stories. He just happened to be on the studio lot when someone saw him and sent him to see [producer] Irwin Allen about the part.

"Allen said 'If you can fit in the suit, you've got the job'."

Lost in Space was a space-age story about the Robinson family who were on a space mission when they became trapped in space.

The Robot was the Robinson family's loyal sidekick, warning them of approaching disaster at every turn, although May did not provide the voice to the character.

May went on to appear in numerous films with Jerry Lewis and in such TV shows as The Time Tunnel, McHale's Navy and The Red Skelton Show.

He and his wife lost their house in November when a wildfire destroyed their mobile home park in the San Fernando Valley.

Pugwash's crewmates on the Black Pig included Tom the Cabin Boy

The BBC commissioned the first series in 1957 after spotting potential in Ryan's books about the tales of Pugwash and his nemesis Cut Throat Jake.

His agent, Jane Gregory, said there was "a huge amount of love" for the childish pirate and his shipmates, who included Tom the Cabin Boy and Willy.

Mr Ryan is survived by his wife and three children.