Dame June Whitfield, Gone at 93

Dame June Whitfield, England’s queen of comedy, died December 28, 2018, at age 93.  She passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Dame June was best known for her comedic work in Terry and June and in Absolutely Fabulous. She was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Her first major role was in the radio show Take It From Here in the 1950s. The last role IMDB.com has recorded for her is Absolutely Fabulous: the Movie in 2016. In between she appeared on East Enders, Dr. Who, Bob the Builder, Friends, and the Benny Hill Show.  

Her genre roles included:

• God You, Me, and the Apocalypse                 2015
• Minnie Hooper Dr. Who “The End of Time” 2009
• Mrs. Coombs Faeries                                1999
• Nanny Ogg The Wyrd Sisters 1997
• Mrs. Beaver The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 1979

She was also in several of the Carry On movies, and played Miss Marple in 12 radio adaptions of Agatha Christie novels.

June Whitfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1958, promoted to CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1998, and knighted in 2017, when she became Dame June.

Her husband, Tim Aitchison, predeceased her in 2001. Dame June is survived by her daughter, actress Suzy Aitchison.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.