Est: 2016
1925 - 2018
June Whitfield
June Rosemary Whitfield was born in Streatham, London, in 1925. Her father was the managing director of a company called Dictograph Telephones that had been started by his father in Yorkshire and both of her parents were keen amateur actors. She made her first stage appearance aged three after her mother, Bertha, enrolled her at Robinson's Dance Studio. Whitfield attended Streatham Hill High School, before being evacuated in World War II to Bognor Regis, where she attended St Michael's School, and to Penzance in Cornwall. She then moved with her parents to Huddersfield, where she learnt shorthand and typing. She then continued to study secretarial skills at Pitman's College, Brixton Hill. In 1944, Whitfield graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with a diploma. In 1955, she married Timothy John Aitchison, who was working as a surveyor. They had a daughter, Suzy (born 4 June 1960), who became an actress.
Whitfield began her career in radio in the 1940s with Wilfred Pickles and worked on stage in the West End and the regions. In 1951, she had her first credited television role in The Passing Show, and she joined the London cast of South Pacific.
Her big break came in 1953 when she replaced the emigrating Joy Nichols on the successful Muir and Norden radio comedy Take It From Here, co-starring Jimmy Edwards and Dick Bentley. In the portion of the show known as "The Glums" she played Eth, fiancee of the dim Ron Glum (played by Bentley). During the next 15 years Whitfield had many supporting roles on television, including in Dixon of Dock Green, Arthur's Treasured Volumes, The Arthur Askey Show, Faces of Jim, The Benny Hill Show, Steptoe and Son and Frankie Howerd. She played the nurse in the opening scene of "The Blood Donor" (Hancock, 1961).
In 1959, she appeared in Carry On Nurse, the first of her four appearances in the Carry On film series.
Pantomime history
1947/48 - Cinderella at the Bradford Alhambra
1982/83 - Jack & the Beanstalk at the Chichester Festival Theatre
1983/84 - Dick Whittington at The Richmond Theatre
1985/86 - Jack and the Beanstalk - Theatre Royal Bath
1986/87 - Jack and the Beanstalk - Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
1990/91 - Babes in the Wood at The Ashcroft Theatre Croydon
1991/92 - Babes in the Wood at The Theatre Royal Plymouth
1992/93 - Babes in the Wood at the New Theatre Cardiff
1994/95 - Cinderella at the Wimbledon Theatre
2014/15 - Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
(June appeared by video as The Spirit of the Mirror)
Film appearances
2016 - Absolutely Fabulous The Movie
2015 - Cider with Rosie
200 - The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
1992 - Carry on Columbus
1973 - Carry on Girls
1972 - Carry on Abroad
1962 - Hotel Paridiso
1959 - Carry on Nurse
Television credits
2014-2016 - 'Boomers' as Joan
2015-2016 - 'Eastenders' as Sister Ruth
2015 - 'You, me and the Apocalypse' as God
2014 - 'Topsy and Tim' as Mrs Higley Pigley
2014 - 'Jonathan Creek' as Heidi Greeley
2014 - 'Midsummer Murders' as Molly Darnley
1992-2012 - 'Absolutely Fabulous' as Mother
2001-2010 - 'Last of the Summer Wine' as Nelly
2010 - 'Coronation Street' as May Penn
2009 - 'Doctor Who' as Minnie Hooper
2007-2009 - 'The Green Green Grass' as Dora
2008 - 'Harley Street' as Betty
2005-2007 - 'Bob The Builder' as Betty
2007 - 'New Tricks' as Pru Saunders
2005 - 'The Royal' as Esme
2000 - 'Mirrorball' as Dora Vermouth
1999 - 'Days Like These' as Grandma
1998 - 'Friends' as the Housekeeper
1997 - 'Common as Muck' as Irene
1990 - 'Cluedo' as Mrs White
1979-1987 - 'Terry and June' as June
1984 - 'Minder' as Mrs Murdoch
1974 - 'The Pallisers' as Mrs Bonteen
1973 - 'Bless This House' as Odette
1969-1970 - 'The Best Things in Life' as Mabel Pollard
1966-1968 - 'Begger be my Neighbour' as Rose Garvey
1967 - 'Hancock's' as Esmeralda
1964 - 'Steptoe and Son' as Madge
1962 - 'The Rag Trade' as Miss Rawlins
1961 - 'The Arthur Askey Show' as Emily Pilbeam
1958 - 'Dixon of Dock Green' as Marie
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