Angela Cartwright, alongside her older sister Veronica, rose to fame as a beloved child star in both television and film. Angela Cartwright first appeared on screen—albeit uncredited—at just 3 years old in the 1956 movie Somebody Up There Likes Me. The very next year, she landed a major role as Danny Thomas’s stepdaughter in the popular sitcom Make Room for Daddy, later renamed The Danny Thomas Show. Angela Cartwright stayed with the show throughout its entire run, which lasted until 1964, and even reunited with Danny Thomas years later in the 1970 sequel series, Make Room for Granddaddy.
Her career truly reached new heights when she was cast as Brigitta von Trapp in the iconic 1965 musical The Sound of Music—a role that remains one of her most memorable. That same year, Angela Cartwright took on another enduring character: Penny Robinson, the curious and spirited middle child of Professor John Robinson and Maureen, in Irwin Allen’s sci-fi adventure Lost in Space. The show ran for three seasons before being canceled, after which Angela Cartwright gradually stepped back from acting.
Though she mostly retired from the spotlight, Angela Cartwright did make a few later appearances, including a role in Irwin Allen’s 1979 disaster film Beyond the Poseidon Adventure and a brief cameo in the 1998 cinematic remake of Lost in Space. Over the years, Angela Cartwright has remained a cherished figure from Hollywood’s golden era of family entertainment.
So, when it comes to Angela Cartwright’s career highlights, one film really stands out as her highest rated—Somebody Up There Likes Me from 1956. It’s definitely a standout moment in Angela Cartwright’s filmography and often regarded as her most acclaimed work. On the flip side, not every project hit the same high notes. In fact, Angela Cartwright’s lowest rated movie came more than two decades later with Beyond the Poseidon Adventure in 1979. While opinions may vary, that particular film didn’t resonate as well with critics or audiences. Still, it’s interesting to see the range of Angela Cartwright’s roles across different eras of cinema.