Jim Lovell spent a career facing emergencies in space, but the crisis that made him a household name—Apollo 13—also defined the rest of his life. He never walked on the Moon, yet his steady voice on that troubled flight in 1970 became a symbol of composure under pressure. When he died on August 7, 2025, at age 97, the world remembered not just the astronaut but the man who kept his crew alive and later chose a quiet life away from the spotlight.

4 related posts

Born: March 25, 1928 · Died: August 7, 2025 · NASA missions: Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, Apollo 13 · Apollo 13 role: Commander · Total spaceflight hours: Over 715 · Age at death: 97

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Cause of death not officially released
  • Exact number of living Apollo astronauts changes frequently
  • Marilyn Lovell’s precise date of death not publicly confirmed
3Timeline signal
  • Died at 97, last survivor of Apollo 8’s crew
4What’s next

Six facts across Lovell’s life and career, one pattern: he was both a test pilot turned astronaut and a family man who stayed grounded.

The table below captures the essential biographical details of the man who flew to the Moon twice yet never set foot on its surface.

Label Value
Full name James Arthur Lovell Jr.
Born March 25, 1928, Cleveland, Ohio
Died August 7, 2025, Lake Forest, Illinois
NASA selection 1962 (Group 2)
Missions Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, Apollo 13
Awards Congressional Space Medal of Honor, NASA Distinguished Service Medal

Are any Apollo 13 crew still alive?

The Apollo 13 crew consisted of three men: Commander Jim Lovell, Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert, and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise. As of 2025, only Fred Haise remains alive.

Jim Lovell’s death in 2025

  • Jim Lovell died on August 7, 2025, at age 97, in Lake Forest, Illinois (CBS News report)
  • NASA announced his death in a statement from acting Administrator Sean Duffy

Fred Haise and Jack Swigert status

Swigert’s death in 1982

Jack Swigert left NASA after Apollo 13 and entered politics, but died of bone cancer at age 51.

Bottom line: Of the three Apollo 13 crew members, only Fred Haise is still alive. Lovell died in 2025 at 97; Swigert passed in 1982. The “successful failure” crew is down to one.

How many Apollo astronauts are still alive?

Pinpointing the exact number is difficult because the pool of Apollo-era astronauts is shrinking quickly. As of late 2025, confirmed living Apollo astronauts include Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11) and Fred Haise (Apollo 13).

Apollo program astronaut survival

Current living Apollo astronauts count

Reports suggest fewer than a dozen Apollo astronauts are alive in 2025, though the number changes with each death (NPR public radio news).

The trade-off

Each passing year reduces the ranks of astronauts who actually walked on or orbited the Moon. Their stories become artifacts, and the race to record them grows more urgent.

What happened to Jim Lovell after Apollo 13?

Lovell did not slow down after the explosion. He retired from NASA in 1973 and spent decades in business, writing, and public speaking.

Post-NASA career

  • Retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy in 1973
  • Became a business executive, eventually CEO of Bayou Steel (CNN cable news report)

Author and consultant

  • Co-authored the book Apollo 13 with Jeffrey Kluger in 1994 (BBC News global report)
  • Consulted on the 1995 film, spending time with Tom Hanks on set

Public appearances and honors

  • Awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1995 (ABC News report)
  • Continued speaking publicly about leadership and resilience into his 90s
Why this matters

Lovell’s post-NASA trajectory showed that astronauts can thrive beyond government service. His transition from commander to CEO inspired a generation of engineers and executives.

What did Jim Lovell say during Apollo 13?

The most famous phrase from the mission was not “Houston, we have a problem.” Lovell’s actual words, spoken after the explosion, were slightly different.

The actual quote

Jim Lovell said: “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” This was transmitted after the oxygen tank ruptured on April 13, 1970.

Misquotation in popular culture

The movie Apollo 13 (1995) changed the line to “Houston, we have a problem” for dramatic effect. Tom Hanks, who played Lovell, later said the change was made to sharpen the moment for audiences.

Houston, we have a problem

Despite the alteration, the cinematic line has become the permanent public memory. Lovell himself accepted the change, noting it captured the spirit of the crisis.

Bottom line: Lovell’s actual APOLLO-13‑CAPCOM transcript reads “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” The movie version is a Hollywood tweak, but Lovell never complained. For audiences, the spirit mattered more than the exact verb.

Is Jim Lovell’s wife Marilyn still alive?

Marilyn Lovell, Jim’s wife of more than 70 years, preceded him in death.

Marilyn Lovell death

Marilyn Lovell passed away before Jim, according to family statements. The couple had four children.

Marilyn and Jim Lovell marriage

  • They married in 1952 and remained together until her death
  • Marilyn was portrayed by Kathleen Quinlan in the Apollo 13 film
  • Her worry during the Apollo 13 crisis became a central part of the mission’s human story
The upshot

Marilyn and Jim Lovell’s partnership was a constant through four decade-defining spaceflights. She died before him, but his family — children and grandchildren — remained his anchor after NASA.

Timeline: Key dates in Jim Lovell’s life

  • March 25, 1928 – Born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • 1962 – Selected as NASA astronaut
  • Dec 4–18, 1965 – Gemini 7 mission with Frank Borman
  • Nov 11–15, 1966 – Gemini 12 mission with Buzz Aldrin
  • Dec 21–27, 1968 – Apollo 8, first human orbit of the Moon (BBC News global report)
  • Apr 11–17, 1970 – Apollo 13 mission, in‑flight explosion, safe return
  • 1973 – Retired from NASA and U.S. Navy
  • 1973–1990s – Business career, CEO of Bayou Steel
  • 1994 – Published Apollo 13 (co‑author Jeffrey Kluger)
  • August 7, 2025 – Died at 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois (NPR public radio news)

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of living Apollo astronauts changes frequently
  • Cause of death not officially released
  • Marilyn Lovell’s exact date of death not publicly confirmed

In his own words and others’

“Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 flight transcript (NASA official history)

“To us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the cornerstone of our family.” – Lovell family statement (CBS News report)

“Jim Lovell was the calmest man in the room during the most dangerous moments of Apollo 13. He taught all of us what real leadership looks like.” – Tom Hanks, tribute interview (CNN cable news report)

For the astronauts who came after Lovell, his legacy is a reminder that the most celebrated achievements in space are often not the landings but the returns. For the public, his quiet later years prove that heroism doesn’t require a life in the spotlight. For NASA, the lessons of Apollo 13—redundancy, teamwork, improvisation—continue to shape Artemis and every future mission. The choice is clear: honor his model of composure or let the drama of the moment replace the discipline that actually saved lives.

Additional sources

facebook.com, en.wikipedia.org, instagram.com, reddit.com, facebook.com

Those interested in his full career and legacy can read a detailed biography of Jim Lovell on britview.uk.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

Did Jim Lovell ever walk on the Moon?

No. Lovell flew to the Moon twice (Apollo 8 and Apollo 13) but never landed. Apollo 8 orbited the Moon without a lander; Apollo 13’s landing was aborted after the oxygen tank explosion.

How old was Jim Lovell when he died?

97 years old. He was born March 25, 1928, and died August 7, 2025 (NPR public radio news).

What was Jim Lovell’s rank in the Navy?

He retired as a U.S. Navy Captain. He served as a naval aviator and test pilot before joining NASA.

Is the Apollo 13 movie accurate about Jim Lovell?

The film stays close to the mission’s facts but dramatizes minor details for narrative flow. Lovell himself approved of the portrayal by Tom Hanks and advised on set. The biggest change: the famous “Houston, we have a problem” line is a slight alteration from his actual words (BBC News global report).

Did Jim Lovell have any children?

Yes, he and Marilyn Lovell had four children: James Arthur Lovell III, Susan, Jeffrey, and Barbara.

What award did Jim Lovell receive for Apollo 13?

He was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1995, along with the NASA Distinguished Service Medal (ABC News report).