June Dayton

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.

June Dayton
Dayton in 1961
Born
Mary June Wetzel

(1923-08-24)August 24, 1923
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 13, 1994(1994-06-13) (aged 70)
Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1951–1986
Spouse(s)Dean Harens
(June 9, 1947 - June 13, 1994) (her death)

Early life

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

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

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 in as a guest star on episodes of Studio One, Robert Montgomery Presents, Kraft Theatre, 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 appeared in an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre titled Divorcees Anonymous.[5] In 1958, she played Sue Hardisty in "The Case of the Buried Clock." Dayton played Catherine Drisco in the episode "The Party Line" on CBS's Dennis the Menace. She had a memorable role in The Twilight Zone episode "A Penny for Your Thoughts", which featured Dick York.

In 1965, she was cast as Virginia Farragut in "The Battle of San Francisco Bay" in the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days, with series host Ronald W. Reagan as Admiral David Farragut. Dayton was cast as a nun, Sister Mary Frances, in the earlier 1960 Death Valley Days episode, "The Wind at Your Back", hosted by Stanley Andrews. In the story line, the nun tries to convince a young wounded outlaw, Johnny Carter (Steven Terrell), whom she is treating at a mission school, to turn himself into the law.[6]

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

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

Death

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

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1963Twilight of HonorVera Driscoll
1964One Man's WayMrs. Gordon
1970Tora! Tora! Tora!Miss Ray Cave
1974The Man from IndependenceBess Truman
1977Something for JoeyMrs. Frome
1978Deadman's CurveClara Berry
1978The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2Mrs. Boothe
1979Captain AmericaSecretary

References
  1. "June Dayton Harens; Played Mary Aldrich in Henry Aldrich Films". Los Angeles Times. June 18, 1994. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  2. "Lucky Break". The Age. Australia, Victoria, Melbourne. September 15, 1951. p. 5. Retrieved February 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "June Dayton". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. 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. "The Wind at Your Back on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
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