June Brown’s death was announced by her family and by the BBC in a brief statement.
EastEnders actress June Brown, well known for her portrayal of Dot Cotton, has died at the age of 95, according to the BBC.
June Brown took up the role of chain-smoking Dot Cotton in 1985 and had been in the BBC soap ever since before she left the show in 2020 for good. She was perhaps EastEnder’s best-known star.
The veteran actress, who had a long career in television and theatre, joined Albert Square shortly after the show’s debut in 1985 and remained a regular for more than three decades, with the exception of a brief hiatus between 1993 and 1997.
Before becoming a mainstay in EastEnders, she had roles in Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Minder and The Bill.
Here’s how June Brown died, how old she was, and the legacy she left behind.
How Did June Brown Die? Cause of June Brown’s Death
June Brown died on Sunday at her home in Surrey, surrounded by her family. Although the cause of June Brown’s death has not been disclosed, it appears she died of natural causes owing to old age.
June Brown’s family announced the news of her death in a statement that reads:
“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. We would kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time.”
How Old Was June Brown?
June Muriel Brown was born on February 16, 1927, in Needham Market, Suffolk, England. She died at the age of 95, having celebrated her 95th birthday a couple of months ago.
Tributes To June Brown Following Her Death
An EastEnders spokeswoman announced June Brown’s death in a statement and paid a heartfelt tribute to her, saying:
“We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE, sadly passed away last night. There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten.
She continued:
“We send all our love and deepest sympathies to June’s family and friends. A very bright light has gone out at EastEnders today but we shall all be raising a sweet sherry in June’s memory. Rest in peace, our dearest June. You will never be forgotten.”
BBC broadcaster and TV critic, Scott Bryan, said on Twitter:
“There was no one like June Brown.”
Woodyatt – who played Ian Beale in the soap for 35 years – said in a statement:
“I’m lost for words, something June never was. So many memories, so much fun. Just purely and simply an incredible woman who had the most incredible life and career, I was fortunate to have shared a small part of it. They never made you a Dame (we did try), but to me you will always be Dame Brown.”
June Brown’s Husband and Children
June Brown had married twice and was the mother of five children. She married actor John Garley at the age of 23 in 1950. Sadly, John, who suffered from depression, took his own life in 1957.
A year after the death of her first husband, the EastEnders star married actor Robert Arnold in 1958. The couple welcomed six children in seven years, one of whom died in infancy. The two were married for 45 years until Robert died in 2003 of Lewy-body dementia. Thereafter, she lived alone in Surrey.
June Brown is now survived by her five children – Lousie, Chloe, Naomi, William, and Sophie. Chloe was named after their second daughter who died in infancy after just 16 days.
