June Allyson

Actress[30]

What is June Allyson known for?

June Allyson, born Eleanor Geisman on October 7, 1917, in The Bronx, New York, was a multifaceted American talent who made her mark as an actress, dancer, and singer. Her remarkable career, which spanned from 1936 to 2001, began with her roles as a dancer in short films and Broadway before she signed with MGM in 1943.

Allyson rose to fame with her appearance in Two Girls and a Sailor and further gained popularity with her "girl next door" image, especially during the mid-1940s when she co-starred with actor Van Johnson in six films. Her acting prowess led her to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 1951 for her performance in Too Young to Kiss.

From 1959 to 1961, Allyson hosted and occasionally acted in her own anthology series, The DuPont Show with June Allyson, which aired on CBS. A return to the stage in the 1970s saw her star in Forty Carats and No, No, Nanette. The release of her autobiography, June Allyson by June Allyson, came in 1982, but Allyson continued to guest star on television and appear in films after.

Beyond her acting career, Allyson set up the June Allyson Foundation for Public Awareness and Medical Research, raising funds for research into urological and gynecological diseases affecting senior citizens. She also launched a successful marketing campaign as the spokesperson for Depend undergarments, contributing to reducing the social stigma of incontinence.

Allyson was married four times, with two children from her first marriage to Dick Powell. On July 8, 2006, she passed away from respiratory failure and bronchitis at the age of 88.

Find out more about June Allyson's life and career on her official website.