Girl Next Door June Allyson Obituary; June Allyson Filmography

Hollywood's Girl Next Door June Allyson Dies At 88
Written by Paul Rance
Sunday, 9 July 2006

American actress June Allyson passed away on July 8th, in Ojai, California. She was 88. Ms. Allyson was renowned for playing girl next door roles, despite her husky voice being suitable for more sultry parts. Ms. Allyson's voice changed, however, when she had to have two major throat operations in the early 1960s.

June Allyson had a string of notable co-stars, including Van Johnson and James Stewart. She played Stewart's wife in probably her most famous film, 'The Glenn Miller Story (1953)', and also in 'Strategic Air Command (1955)'. Ms. Allyson was married to fellow actor Dick Powell for 18 years, and they appeared together in several films - 'Meet The People (1944)', 'The Reformer And The Redhead', and 'Right Cross', both 1950. Other films June Allyson appeared in included 'The Three Musketeers (1948)', and as tomboy Jo March in the 1949 remake of 'Little Women'. June also appeared in musicals, and her being effectively Judy Garland's stand-in would keep the temperamental legend in check.

Though June Allyson was frustrated by her lack of meaty roles, she did have her moments, playing strong roles in 'The Secret Heart (1946)', 'Executive Suite (1954)', and as the nagging Ann Downs in 'The Shrike (1955)'. Later in her career she even played a lesbian murderess in 'They Only Kill Their Masters (1972)'. June Allyson also appeared in a number of popular TV shows, including 'The Incredible Hulk', 'The Love Boat', 'Hart To Hart', 'Murder, She Wrote', 'Crazy Like A Fox', 'Airwolf', and 'Burke's Law'. She had her own TV show, and appeared on husband Dick Powell's show.

Born Ella Geisman on October 7th, 1917, in the Bronx, June Allyson was effectively brought up by her maternal grandmother after her parents divorce. She taught herself to dance by obsessively watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals. She put her dancing skills to good use as a chorus girl early in her career, when still a student, but her career gradually changed direction, and she was to become one of America's best loved actresses of the 1940s and 1950s.

A Girl, Three Guys, and a Gun (2001)
Blackout (1978)
They Only Kill Their Masters (1972)
A Stranger in My Arms (1959)
My Man Godfrey (1957)
Interlude (1957)
You Can't Run Away from It (1956)
The Opposite Sex (1956)
The McConnell Story (1955)
The Shrike (1955)
Strategic Air Command (1955)
Woman's World (1954/I)
Executive Suite (1954)
The Glenn Miller Story (1953)
Remains to Be Seen (1953)
Battle Circus (1953)
The Girl in White (1952)
Too Young to Kiss (1951)
Right Cross (1950)
The Reformer and the Redhead (1950)
The Stratton Story (1949)
Little Women (1949)
The Three Musketeers (1948)
The Bride Goes Wild (1948)
Good News (1947)
High Barbaree (1947)
The Secret Heart (1946)
Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
Two Sisters from Boston (1946)
The Sailor Takes a Wife (1945)
Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945)
Music for Millions (1944)
Meet the People (1944)
Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
Girl Crazy (1943)
Best Foot Forward (1943)
All Girl Revue (1940)
The Knight Is Young (1938)
The Prisoner of Swing (1938)
Sing for Sweetie (1938)
Not Now (1938)
Dates and Nuts (1937)
Dime a Dance (1937)
Ups and Downs (1937)
Pixilated (1937)
Swing for Sale (1937)

Home

Books

Music

Films