Posted on 07/10/2006 2:45:35 PM PDT by lunarbicep
June Allyson, the sunny, cracked-voiced "perfect wife" of James Stewart, Van Johnson and other movie heroes, has died, her daughter Pamela Allyson Powell said Monday. She was 88.
Allyson died Saturday at her home in Ojai, with her husband of nearly 30 years, David Ashrow, at her side, Powell said in a telephone interview.
She died of pulmonary respiratory failure and acute bronchitis after a long illness, Powell said.
During World War II, American GIs pinned up photos of Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable, but June Allyson was the girl they wanted to come home to. Petite, blonde and alive with fresh-faced optimism, she seemed the ideal sweetheart and wife, supporting and unthreatening.
"I had the most wonderful last meeting with June at her house in Ojai. We had gotten lost in the car. She told me: 'I could wait for you forever.' We were such dear friends. I will miss her," lifelong friend Esther Williams said.
With typical wonderment, Allyson expressed surprise in a 1986 interview that she had ever become a movie star:
"I have big teeth. I lisp. My eyes disappear when I smile. My voice is funny. I don't sing like Judy Garland. I don't dance like Cyd Charisse. But women identify with me. And while men desire Cyd Charisse, they'd take me home to meet Mom."
No, June, Julia Roberts has big teeth and I'm surprised that she ever became a star. But you were always adorable and deserved every minute of succcess. Congratulations on your long marriage, your long life, and the indelible impression you left with generations of moviegoers. You were among the best!
RIP June Allyson.
Smithee, your tag line is toooooo funny, based on some girls' names I saw listed on the internette today (actually had to double check how to spell Charlotte) those can't be far behind.
Thanks for posting this. I didn't realize she was still alive. She was once married to Dick Powell I believe.
Well said.
I'd like to hang a sign over the front door, "Chez McGee", but unfortunately Mother has absolutely no sense of humor. (She was given the nickname, McGee, because of the old radio show, Fibber McGee and Molly.)
Many old and new Hollywood celebrities have either first or second homes in Ojai Valley. Newcomers to the valley are warned, "You need to know there're a lot of rich crazies, and a lot of poor crazy in the valley, and a few inbetween."
June Allyson was a real class act. She was well respected by regular folks in the community.
I don't know her name. I miss sooo many obits on FR - wish there could be a place just for them, so I'd know to check there. Thanks for that.
If I had known she had died, I would've ... well, you know. Baked her something.
OK, thanks. I'm sure she didn't adopt my puppy when we moved, lol, or I'd have heard about it.
Does anyone remember the movie in which Jimmy Stewart was a brilliant, scientific widowed father, and June Alison came along to set things right in his world?
It had Gloria Swanson in it; and she was supposed to head for the head when the tail fell off of the airplane.
I loved that one.
Thanks for posting that. I was just thinking (and posting) about Rosemary deCamp yesterday or the day before, on the Jack Smith thread, and here she is, in this favorite movie of mine. She always seemed like someone we all knew in real life, like a neighbor.
I see Harry Morgan was still Henry Morgan in this listing. That's Col. Potter from M*A*S*H, among many other characters he played. I know it wasn't "Henry" Morgan - that must be why Harry changed his name and SAG card.
And Frank Lovejoy - of course - could he play anything else besides a military higher-up? That was rhetorical - I'm sure he could and did - but he was straight from "central casting" on this one!
I swear, I thought Jackie Cooper was in this, just as one of the younger pilots. Guess not.
May she rest in peace. One of the old-time greats.
I live a few miles from Ojai, and this is not the first time I've found out this sad way that a classic movie star lived literally just up the road. She was one of a vanishing breed, and it's always sad to see Turner Classic Movies having to do one of their movie salutes when yet another one passes on.
RIP Ms. Allyson
RIP, June Allyson and thanks for some great entertainment.
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