June Dayton


June Dayton was an American television actress who appeared in a variety of shows from the 1950s into the 1980s.

Early life

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

Stage

Dayton's Broadway credits include The Ivy Green, Tenting Tonight and Lovely Me.
She worked in summer stock theater for several years, and in 1951, she toured in Australia with a production of The Moon Is Blue.

Television

Dayton played Mary Aldrich in The Aldrich Family, Patsy Hamilton in The Brighter Day, Jennifer in A Date with Life, Grace Baden in Lucas Tanner, and Lucy Spaulding in Paradise Bay.
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. 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, whom she is treating at a mission school, to turn himself into the law.
Her film appearances included roles in Twilight of Honor, One Man's Way, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Something for Joey, Deadman's Curve and The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2. 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.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
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