June Dayton

June Dayton
Dayton in 1961
Born
Mary June Wetzel

(1923-08-24)August 24, 1923
DiedJune 13, 1994(1994-06-13) (aged 70)
OccupationActress
Years active1951–1986
Spouse(s)Dean Harens
(m. 1947)

June Dayton (born Mary June Wetzel; August 24, 1923 – June 13, 1994) was an American television actress who appeared in a variety of shows from the 1950s into the 1980s.

Early life

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Dayton was born in Dayton, Ohio. She used her hometown of Dayton to create a professional name.[1] Her introduction to acting came via a dramatic arts course in college.[2]

Stage

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Dayton's Broadway credits include The Ivy Green (1949), Tenting Tonight (1947) and Lovely Me (1946).[3]

She worked in summer stock theater for several years, and in 1951, she toured in Australia with a production of The Moon Is Blue.[2]

Television

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Dayton played Mary Aldrich in The Aldrich Family,[4] Patsy Hamilton in The Brighter Day,[4]: 136  Jennifer in A Date with Life,[4]: 238  Grace Baden in Lucas Tanner,[4]: 632  and Lucy Spaulding in Paradise Bay.[4]: 810 

Dayton appeared as a guest star in episodes of Studio One, Robert Montgomery Presents, Kraft Theatre, The Untouchables (1959 TV series), Gunsmoke (“Laughing Gas” - 1958 - S3E29 & “Bently” - 1964 - S9E28), The Investigators, The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Barnaby Jones, and Quincy, M.E.. She made five guest appearances on Perry Mason, twice as the defendant: in 1957 she played Myrna Davenport in "The Case of the Runaway Corpse", and in 1958, she played Sue Hardisty in "The Case of the Buried Clock". Dayton played Catherine Driscoll in the episode "The Party Line" on CBS's Dennis the Menace. She had a memorable role as Helen Turner in The Twilight Zone episode "A Penny for Your Thoughts", which featured Dick York. She appeared in an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre titled "Divorcees Anonymous".[5]

In 1965, Dayton was cast as Virginia Farragut in "The Battle of San Francisco Bay" in the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days.[6] She also starred in a 1969 episode of Land of the Giants titled "Home Sweet Home".

Dayton guest-starred in two episodes of Cannon: the September 1971 episode of "Death Chain"[7] as Susan Kendrix and the February 1974 episode "Blood Money"[8] as Nurse Laura Meader.

She made three appearances on Barnaby Jones: the January 1974 episode "The Platinum Connection"[9] as Mrs. Andrews, the October 1974 episode "Odd Man Loses"[10] as Pam Hogan and the March 1979 episode "Child of Love Child of Vengeance: Part 1"[11][12] as Marie Adams."

Her film appearances included roles in Twilight of Honor (1963), One Man's Way (1963), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Something for Joey (1977), Deadman's Curve (1978) and The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2 (1978). Dayton was in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show about an ex army buddy who Rob thought is a jewel thief.

Personal life

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Dayton married actor Dean Harens in 1947. The marriage lasted until her death in 1994.

Death

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Dayton died of cancer in Sherman Oaks, California. She was 70.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Barbara Stander Season 1 Episode 19: "To Catch a Butterfly"
1963 Twilight of Honor Vera Driscoll
1964 One Man's Way Mrs. Gordon
1970 Tora! Tora! Tora! Miss Ray Cave
1974 The Man from Independence Bess Truman
1977 Something for Joey Mrs. Frome
1978 Deadman's Curve Clara Berry
1978 The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2 Mrs. Boothe
1979 Captain America Secretary

References

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  1. ^ a b "June Dayton Harens; Played Mary Aldrich in Henry Aldrich Films". Los Angeles Times. June 18, 1994. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Lucky Break". The Age. Australia, Victoria, Melbourne. September 15, 1951. p. 5. Retrieved February 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "June Dayton". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of television shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  5. ^ McMahon, Mike (8 January 1957). Entertainment Highlights, Plattsburgh Press-Republican
  6. ^ ""Death Valley Days" the Battle of San Francisco Bay (TV Episode 1965) - IMDb". IMDb.
  7. ^ Cannon: Death Chain | TVmaze, retrieved 2023-02-14
  8. ^ "Blood Money - Guest Cast | TVmaze". www.tvmaze.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  9. ^ Barnaby Jones: The Platinum Connection | TVmaze, retrieved 2023-02-14
  10. ^ "Odd Man Loses - Guest Cast | TVmaze". www.tvmaze.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  11. ^ Barnaby Jones: Season 7, Episode 23, retrieved 2023-02-14
  12. ^ "June Dayton guest appearances". www.ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
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