June Haver, the blonde star of 1940s musicals such as Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944), Three Little Girls in Blue (1946), and Look for the Silver Lining (1949), died of respiratory failure in the Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood on July 4. She was 79.
With her peaches-and-cream complexion, Haver graced the screen for about a decade, invariably cast as a sort of walking, talking, and singing blonde doll. Her vehicles were usually musicals, and light dramas and comedies, most of which at 20th Century-Fox.
In fact, she was Fox's "threat" to the studio's top peaches-and-cream blonde, Betty Grable (with whom Haver co-starred in The Dolly Sisters, top photo).
Following the death of her fiance in 1949, Haver began to lose interest in her career. And by the early 1950s, Marilyn Monroe was on her way to becoming Fox's top blonde attraction.
Haver finally quit films in 1953. Her last movie was the unimpressive comedy The Girl Next Door, opposite Dan Dailey. She left Hollywood to enter a convent, but gave up on it — reportedly for health reasons — seven months later.
In 1954, she married (recently widowed) actor Fred MacMurray, with whom she had co-starred in the 1945 musical Where Do We Go from Here? They remained married until his death in 1991.
Haver told San Francisco Chronicle columnist Ruthe Stein that she had no regrets about giving up her acting career, saying that the working actresses of her day "ended up sleeping alone and being very lonely. Their children are writing awful books about them."
Haver remarked that her two (adopted) daughters had promised never to write a tell-all book about her. She then added. "I told them if they wanted to write about their dad, that was OK."
Fox Before the Code at New York City's Film Forum
june & fred were neighbors when i lived in the russian river area…words cannot express how everyone surely misses both now. She was always my favorite when i was a young boy. Now, my mom's best friend, betty hutton lives by me and i help assist with her eveeryday livings….she will be 85 in february…..i just found out about the passing of june and my heart goes with her family and friends….she'll always be remembered.
i last heard from June in July of this year, and she made no mention of her health. told me how she was enjoiying her grand children. we were coking partners in high school together. my heart goes out to all in her family. She was such a great gal.
I just read in your website that my favorite actress
June Haver died this summer.
I remember in my childhood years in Crete -Greece
that I was always saying to my friends how much I liked her
and how talented and beauful she was. My favorite actress indeed!
I am really sorry! My deepest condolences to her family.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sophia Metzakis Laszlo
I was so sorry to hear of June Haver's death. She was a beautiful, talented star. My deepest condolences to her family. Sincerely, Kay Abshire