James Arthur Lovell Jr.
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Jim Lovell flew on Gemini 7 and 12, then Apollo 8, making him one of the first three humans to orbit the Moon in 1968. He then commanded Apollo 13 in 1970, which suffered a critical failure but returned safely, famously reporting ‘Houston, we’ve had a problem. With two Gemini and two Apollo flights, he logged 18 days in space by 1966, setting a record. He received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and many other awards.
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Jim Lovell by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Jim Lovell — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Born at 2:10am EST on March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio, James Arthur Lovell Jr. was raised by his mother Blanche Lovell. He attended MacDowell Montessori School and the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1952. He also studied at Harvard Business School and the University of Southern California.
In 1946 he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve. After earning his commission, he became a naval aviator and test pilot. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1962.
Lovell graduated from the Naval Academy in 1952 and served as a naval aviator and test pilot. In 1962, NASA selected him as one of the Gemini Nine astronauts. He flew on Gemini 7 with Frank Borman in 1965, setting a fourteen-day duration record and achieving the first space rendezvous with Gemini 6. In 1966, he commanded Gemini 12 with Buzz Aldrin, demonstrating extravehicular activity.
As command module pilot of Apollo 8 in 1968, Lovell orbited the Moon with Borman and William Anders, delivering a Christmas Eve broadcast. He then commanded Apollo 13 in 1970. An oxygen tank explosion forced the crew to use the lunar module Aquarius as a lifeboat, and they returned safely on April 17. He retired from NASA in 1973.
Jim Lovell married Marilyn Lillie on June 6, 1952. They had four children: Barbara born 1953, Susan born 1958, Jeffrey born 1966, and Jay. The family lived in Lake Forest, Illinois, where they ran a restaurant called Lovell’s, with son Jay as head chef. He had 10 grandchildren. Lovell died on August 7, 2025 in Lake Forest at the age of 97.
Jim Lovell is one of only three astronauts to have visited the Moon twice, but he never walked on it. His Apollo 13 mission was immortalized in the 1995 film Apollo 13, with Tom Hanks portraying him. The James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center in North Chicago, Illinois, bears his name. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, among many awards. He remains a key figure in humanity’s exploration of space.
The complete filmography of Jim Lovell — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Jim Lovell — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Jim Lovell — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Houston, We’ve Had a Problem Here.
Little-known facts about Jim Lovell — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
He lived in Lake Forest, Illinois, an affluent suburb of Chicago. His family operates an upscale restaurant called Lovell’s, where his son Jay is the head chef.
During the Apollo 8 mission, Lovell and the crew did a Christmas Eve broadcast reading from the Bible. The next day, he jokingly told Mission Control he had seen Santa Claus.
He began his naval career in May 1946 by enlisting in the U.S. Naval Reserve. After two years of inactive duty, he was discharged to attend the Naval Academy, graduating in June 1952 and receiving a commission as an Ensign. He served as a naval aviator, test pilot, and command astronaut until February 1973, retiring as a Captain.
A major street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin bears his name.
He was turned down for the original seven Mercury astronauts in 1959 but succeeded in becoming one of the Gemini Nine in September 1962.
He commanded Apollo 13 with Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, re-energizing world interest in the Apollo program while surviving in the lunar module Aquarius.
He flew on Gemini 7 and 12, Apollo 8 first to orbit the Moon, and Apollo 13 aborted due to explosion but returned safely.
On Apollo 8, he flew with Frank Borman and Bill Anders, making a memorable Christmas Eve broadcast reading from Genesis.
One of the most experienced NASA astronauts from the Apollo era, flying two Gemini and two Apollo flights.
Children: Barbara L born Oct 13, 1953, James A. Jr. born Feb 15, 1955, Susan K born Jul 14, 1958, Jeffrey born Jan 14, 1966.
He had 10 grandchildren.
Appointed as Midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy on July 3, 1948 by recommendation from Congressman John Brophy of Wisconsin.
By November 1966, he had spent 18 days in space, setting a record for time in space that held until May 1973.
One of only three men to visit the Moon twice, but the only one never to walk on it. The others are John Young and Eugene Cernan.
He retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain, a rank he stressed when given a cameo role in Apollo 13.
He flew with Buzz Aldrin on Gemini 12, rendezvousing with an Agena target vehicle and conducting a two-hour EVA.
He flew with Frank Borman on Gemini 7, setting a duration record and rendezvousing with Gemini 6.
Inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 1993.
He is portrayed by Pablo Schreiber in First Man 2018.
He is portrayed by Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 1995. The film changed his famous quote to Houston, we have a problem for urgency.
The James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center is a joint DOD and VA hospital named in his honor, located at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago, Illinois.
He was born at 2:10am EST.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Jim Lovell.
Celebrities similar to Jim Lovell — same craft, ranked by reach.
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