Christmas in July actress June Preston has died aged 93 after a battle with dementia.
The screen star was well known for her stellar performances in It Happened One Night and Christmas in July.
The actress passed away last Wednesday (May 11) at a nursing home in Montclair, New Jersey.
Her loving daughter, Sabrina Pires, shared the harrowing news with The Hollywood Reporter.
June’s showbiz career kicked off at the tender age of three and she was soon signed into a seven-year contract.
The young star made her on-screen debut in Anne of Green Gables in 1934.
She then went on to star in Frank Capra’s famous film It Happened One Night, which soared to success and won the top five Oscars, including best picture.
(Image: Universal)
On the side, she had merchandising contracts for “June Preston Frocks” and other clothing items such as undergarments, swimsuits, snowsuits, coats, shoes, purses, hats, gloves, and handkerchiefs.
She also had a line of dolls and toys come out at the time too.
Her acting career ended during her teens with her final feature being in 1943’s Happy Land at age 15.
(Image: RKO – Radio Pictures, Inc.)
Though this did not end June’s passion for creative arts.
One year later after her final film appearance, June was spotted by a German conductor and vocal coach, maestro Gustav Stern, in Seattle, who took her on to her next path.
She then debuted with a Metropolitan Opera company in a lead spot at 24 and continued to perform at famous opera houses in worldwide locations for the next 10 years.
June was coined the “Golden Voice” and placed into the West Seattle High School Hall of Fame in 1996.
This led to praise from then-President George Bush and his First Lady Barbara Bush.
Alongside her daughter, June is survived by her son-in-law, John, and her sister, Lita.
The late actress will soon be laid to rest in a private ceremony in the Hollywood Hills, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
