June Whitfield 1925 Died at Age 93 December 2018
June Whitfield 1925 Age 93
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Born November 11, 1925 in Streatham, London, England, UK
Died December 28, 2018
Birth Name June Rosemary Whitfield
Height 5' 1" (1.55 m)
Mini Bio
June Whitfield has had a long and successful career that has included musical theatre, films and numerous radio and television performances. Her mother was into amateur dramatics and June had elocution and dancing lessons from an early age. She attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked in theatre. One of her earliest experiences was working with Wilfred Pickles, whose great comic talent and gift for timing made quite an impression on her.
She became a household name on the radio comedy "Take It From Here" in 1953, a time when radio was far more popular than television. When television overtook radio in popularity, June made a successful transition.
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Over the next few years she worked with most of the biggest names in comedy, including Arthur Askey, Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Benny Hill, Harry H. Corbett, Wilfrid Brambell, Ronnie Barker, Richard Briers, Eric Morecambe and Dick Emery.
She became a television double-act with Terry Scott on Happy Ever After (1974) and Terry and June (1979). She also appeared in three installments of the popular Carry On film series, Carry On Nurse (1959), Carry on Abroad (1972) and Carry on Girls (1973).
By the 1980s, June Whitfield was viewed by some members of the alternative comedy scene as representing the kind of traditional, safe comedy they were reacting against. However, she still had her talent of perfect comic timing and her range of voices, which enabled her to continue working. She moved back to more theatre and radio, including The News Huddlines, a satirical radio show fronted by Roy Hudd. In 1992 she appeared in Carry on Columbus (1992), a failed attempt to resurrect the Carry On series. The same year she started a more successful venture, Absolutely Fabulous (1992), which became one of the most popular sitcoms of the decade and put her back into the spotlight.
Now in her 90s, June Whitfield is regarded as a comedy legend, one of the last surviving members of the golden age of British radio and television comedy and still one of the best actresses in the business.
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Spouse
- Tim Aitchison (24 October 1955 - 14 February 2001) ( his death) ( 1 child)
Trivia (15)
- Original voice of Eth in the radio version of The Glums (1978).
- Gave birth to her only child at age 34, a daughter Susan Jane Aitchison, aka Suzy Aitchison, on 4 June 1960. Child's father was her husband, Tim Aitchison.
- She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.
- Her husband was a chartered surveyor.
- Gave up smoking in 1976.
- She was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.
- Played the Queen of Spain in Carry on Columbus (1992) after both Barbara Windsor and Joan Sims turned it down.
- She was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to Drama and Entertainment in London, England.
- Daughter of John Herbert (1894-1955) and Bertha Georgina (née Flett) Whitfield (1895-1982).
- Younger sister of John Whitfield (b. 1922).
- Maternal granddaughter of Alexander (1865-1941), born in Wick, Scotland, and Alice (née Wadham) Flett (1876-1938), born in Rochester, Kent.
- Maternal great granddaughter of Alexander (1816-1897) and Isabella (née Coghill) Flett (1821-1892). Both were born and raised in Wick, Scotland.
- Played Miss Marple in BBC Radio 4 adaptations between 1993 and 2001.
- First found fame in 1953 playing .'Eth' to Dick Bentley's 'Ron' in the 'Glum Family' sketches in the radio comedy show 'Take It From Here'.
- Played Miss Marple on Radio 4.
Personal Quotes (7)
- The Carry Ons were a nudging sort of humour, like seaside postcards, not at all politically correct which was always a good thing. They were a sort of innocent kind of humour. I think today's kind of humour is far less innocent and sometimes very vulgar.
- In the past few years I've probably worked more than in any of the years since Terry and June finished in 1988 - as Joanna Lumley says, Ab Fab made us born-again actresses.
- When you're invited to take such a part, you don't really ask too much
- [on the Carry On Films] "Carry On Abroad was my favourite. I was usually paired with Ken Connor who was a joy to work with."
- [on daughter Suzy Aitchison]: By far my proudest and greatest achievement.
- [about her damehood] It's amazing and a great honour and the icing on the cake of life.
- [about her damehood] I never in a million years thought I would become a dame. I've met some of the other dames and it's absolutely wonderful to join the club.
Salary
- Carry on Abroad (1972) £1,000
- Carry on Girls (1973) £1,000
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