June Laverick
June Laverick (born 11 June 1931) is an English film, television and stage actress.
She was once described as "a popular lightweight leading actress of the day"[1] and is probably best remembered as the fictional wife of Dickie Henderson in The Dickie Henderson Show.[2]
Personal
Before June was born her parents ran a public house in Bishop Auckland but then returned to Redcar to run the Royal Hotel on the sea front near Redcar Pier. In 1931, Laverick was born in Laburnum Road, Redcar.[3] In her youth June attended White House school and ballet school. She was determined at an early age that she wanted a career in light entertainment.[3]
She followed an acting career in theatre, film and television and after retiring from acting in her 30s June moved back to Redcar, marrying an ICI process worker and briefly taking over the licence of the Royal Hotel before returning south alone.[3]
Stage, film and television career
In the 1950s June worked in the theatre in musicals, comedies and revues, and had a variety of film roles contracted to the Rank Organisation. She was a member of The Company of Youth, the Rank Organisation's acting school often referred to as "The Charm School"[4] and was often photographed for the front covers of cinema magazines and for publicity shots.[5] Her peak year in films was 1958, where she appeared in three prominent film roles, notably as the leading lady opposite Tommy Steele in The Duke Wore Jeans.
June made an early television appearance in an episode of Boyd Q.C. (1958) and in episodes of Tales from Dickens (1959) as Dora Spenlow.[6] She took over the role of Dickie Henderson's wife from Anthea Askey in ITV's The Dickie Henderson Half Hour[7] in The Dickie Henderson Show (1960–1963).[8]
After the Dickie Henderson Show, June retired from acting to be replaced by Isla Blair[9] in the next series A Present for Dickie (1969–1970). In 1970 June returned to appear in the last episode.[8][10]
Personal life
After her final appearance on television in the last episode of Dickie Henderson's show, she took over the licence, from her parents, of The Royal Hotel in Redcar. She was briefly married to Charles Kenneth Cooke, an ICI worker. After the marriage ended she returned to the south of England and spent her time living in Baker Street, London and became romantically linked with Hughie Green the Double Your Money television games show host in the 1960s.[11]
Selected stage
- When In Rome (1959–60) at the Adelphi Theatre, London a short-lived stage musical with Dickie Henderson and Eleanor Summerfield[12][13]
- The Punch Revue (1955) at the Duke of York's Theatre, London with Binnie Hale and Alfie Bass[14]
- Over the Moon (1952–53) at the Bristol Hippodrome with Cicely Courtneidge[13]
- Gay's the Word (1952) at the Saville Theatre, London with Cicely Courtneidge
- Cinderella (1948) at the Royal Opera House, London.[15]
Filmography
- The Flesh and the Fiends (1960) (US: Mania) (1960) as Martha Knox, with Peter Cushing
- Follow a Star (1959) as Judy, with Norman Wisdom
- The Son of Robin Hood (1958) as Deering Hood daughter of Robin Hood
- The Duke Wore Jeans (1958) as Princess Maria, with Tommy Steele
- The Gypsy and the Gentleman (1958) as Sarah Deverill, with Melina Mercouri
- Souvenir d'Italie (1957) (US: It Happened in Rome) (1959) as Margaret
- Doctor at Large (1957) (uncredited minor role).
Television
- The Stamp Collector (1963) with Dickie Henderson
- The Stately Home (1963) with Dickie Henderson
- The Romance (1962) with Dickie Henderson
- The Gangster (1962) with Dickie Henderson
- David and Dora (1962) as Dora Spenlow in Tales of Dickens
- The Psychiatrist (1960) with Dickie Henderson
- The Dancing Years as Greta Schone
- The Shropshire Lass (1958) with Michael Denison
Discography
- Dickie Henderson (1960) Sympatica/It's Nice To Sleep With No-One, June Laverick, Oriole CB1536[16]
- Stop (1960), Oriole CB1537[17][18][19]
- When in Rome (1960), Oriole EP7026[20]
References
- ^ "June Laverick". Britmovie. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ Budd, Dave. "The Definitive UK Sitcom List". Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ a b c "How June won the hearts of all". The Northern Echo. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
- ^ "1950s - The Rocking Fifties". PastTimesProject.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ "Picture Show Magazines". Picture Show online. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ "1950's Filmed Drama Series: Tales from Dickens". 78rpm. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ Gifford, Denis (5 March 1999). "Obituary: Anthea Askey". The Independent. London. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ a b "The Dickie Henderson Show". Nostalgia Central. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ "The Dickie Henderson Show". Television Heaven. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ "The UK Sitcoms Guide". Memorable TV. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ The life and many loves of Hughie Green www.telegraph.co.uk Retrieved 18 June 2020
- ^ Vallance, Tom (16 July 2001). "Obituary: Eleanor Summerfield". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2008.; "Unsung Heroes: Eleanor Summerfield". British Musical Theatre. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ a b Sommerville, Matthew. "June Laverick". Theatricalia. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "Sheila Kennedy, June Laverick and Joyce Blair in Larger than Life". V&A Prints. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2010.; "The Punch Revue". The Guide to Musical Theatre. Retrieved 31 October 2010.; Wilton, Rob. "Theatre World Magazines 1950s". Rob Wilton Theatricalia. Archived from the original on 17 May 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "Cinderella". Royal Opera House Collections. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "Dickie Henderson And June Laverick Discography". 45cat. Retrieved 31 October 2010.; "Artists: D". www.45rpm.org.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "June Laverick Discography". 45cat. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "June Laverick Gallery". eil.com. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "June Laverick - Stop". eil.com. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "When In Rome". gemm - Kinace Records. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
External links
- Film & Television databases: IMDB
- Video footage: Pathe.