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June Allyson (born October 7, 1917) is an American actress, popular in the 1940s and 1950s.
She was born Ella Geisman in the Bronx, New York City, and brought up in near-poverty. After a childhood accident, she took up both swimming and dancing as therapy, and made her Broadway chorus-line debut in 1938. After her appearance in Best Foot Forward in 1941, she was selected for the 1943 film version, and followed it up with several other musicals, including Thousands Cheer and Good News! (1947). She also played straight roles such as the tomboy Jo in Little Women (1949) and Glenn Miller's wife in The Glenn Miller Story (1954).
On August 19, 1945, Allyson caused Hollywood studio chiefs some consternation by marrying Dick Powell, who was 13 years her senior and had been previously married to Mildred Maund and Joan Blondell. They had two children, Pamela Allyson Powell (adopted) and Richard Powell, Jr., and remained married until his death on January 2, 1963, which led to Allyson's effective retirement from the screen. Following Powell's death, she went though a bitter court battle with her mother over custody of son Ricky and Pamela. Reports at the time revealed that writer/director Dirk Summers, with whom Allyson was romantically involved from 1963-1975, was named legal guardian for Ricky and Pamela as a result of a court petition.
Members of the nascent jet-set, Allyson and Summers were frequently seen in Cap d'Antibes, Madrid, Rome and London. Despite this, she was married briefly to Glenn Maxwell. Summers refused her many offers of marriage, much to her chagrin.
She has been married to David Ashrow, a dentist turned actor, since 1976.
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