EastEnders' veteran June Brown was a mainstay of the British TV industry, having appeared in several well-known programs such as Coronation Street and Doctor Who.
On April 3, 2022, June Brown, a legendary British actress, passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a rich legacy and a devoted fanbase. Best known for her iconic role as Dot Cotton/Branning in the popular soap opera EastEnders, Brown captivated audiences with her portrayal of a gossip-loving, chain-smoking woman who became one of the longest-running characters in the show's history.
June Brown's rise to prominence
Born in Suffolk, Brown was evacuated to Wales during World War II. She came from an interesting background and was descended from Isaac Bitton, a Jewish bare-knuckle boxer. Tragically, two of her siblings died when they were young. Despite these early hardships, Brown went on to become one of the most beloved actresses in British television and theatre.
Before joining EastEnders in her fifties, Brown appeared in a wide variety of television shows and stage productions. Her credits include Coronation Street, Doctor Who, The Bill, and Survivors, as well as numerous performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Brown was also part of many theatre productions, such as Calendar Girls, Rebecca, An Inspector Calls, and Macbeth.
During her 35-year tenure and a staggering 2,884 episodes on EastEnders, Brown became a national treasure and was awarded an MBE in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity. Despite suffering from macular degeneration, which caused near-blindness, she remained a fixture on the show until 2020, when she retired at the age of 93 and moved to Ireland.
Who was June Brown married to?
According to the Mirror, the EastEnders legend was married twice in her life. Her first husband was John Garley, whom she married in 1950. However, the marriage did not last, and the couple divorced in 1957.
In 1958, June Brown married her second husband, actor and producer Robert Arnold. The couple remained together for over 50 years until Robert's death in 2003.
The actress has remained close to her two sons and their families throughout her life. In fact, it was her sons who encouraged her to take the role of Dot Cotton in EastEnders, a decision that would change the course of her career.
At the time of June's death, her children released a statement which read:
'We are deeply saddened to announce our beloved mother, June, passed away very peacefully at her home in Surrey on Sunday evening, with her family by her side.'
What is June Brown's net worth?
During her more than three decades on the show, the veteran star built up an incredible net worth. According to networthspedia.com, Brown had a net worth of between £1 million and £3.8 million at the time of her passing.
According to reports from The Sun, June Brown's surviving five children inherited her fortune after her passing. June had six children with her second husband, Robert Arnold, but tragically lost her second daughter, Chloe, at just a month old.
Throughout her life, Brown faced many personal tragedies, including the loss of her sister, her first husband, and her second daughter. However, she persevered and continued to delight audiences with her talents and charm. Brown was truly a British icon and her contributions to the world of entertainment will be remembered for generations to come.
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