EastEnders legend June Brown dies aged 95
‘We’ll be raising a sweet sherry in her memory’: Heartbreak as EastEnders icon June Brown dies aged 95 after playing launderette manager Dot Cotton in 2,884 episodes of BBC soap opera over 35 years
The actress died at her home in Surrey on Sunday with her family by her side, the BBC revealed todayOne of Britain’s greatest soap stars was on EastEnders for 35 years, leaving the show in 2020 at the age of 93, Brown, who began her career on Coronation Street married first husband, John Garley, in 1950, but he died June married actor Robert Arnold in 1958. He died in 2003 after 45 years of marriage and six children
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle- -.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle- -.css”);
<!–
EastEnders legend June Brown, best known for her role as Albert Square busybody Dot Cotton, has died at the age of 95, the BBC has announced.
The actress, a mother-of-six born in rural Suffolk in 1927, died at her home in Surrey on Sunday with her family by her side, two years after her final appearance on the soap, 35 years after her debut.
For decades she was one of the most famous faces on British TV, playing the devout Christian famed on Albert Square for her chain smoking, gossiping and mothering of those in need while working in the launderette.
Her relationship with her tearaway son Nasty Nick Cotton, played by John Altman, would captivate millions who watched in horror and sympathy as she forgave and forgave him for his crimes. But in 2015 Dot finally gave up on him after he cut the brakes on Roxy’s car and he died after consuming a bad batch of heroin bought for him by his very own mother.
Dot’s loving relationship with Jim Branning, played by John Bardon, saw the on-screen couple win a host of awards and left heartbroken fans in tears as she said goodbye to him following a stroke.
Ms Brown’s family revealed she died peacefully last night while the BBC urged fans to raise a glass of sweet sherry in her memory. The star still loved a tipple and a cigarette well into her 90s.
An EastEnders spokesman said: ‘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.
‘June created one of the most iconic characters in Dot Cotton, not just in soap but in British television, and having appeared in 2,884 episodes, June’s remarkable performances created some of EastEnders’ finest moments.
‘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.’
EastEnders star June Brown, pictured in 2020 aged 93, who was best known for her role as Dot Cotton, has died at the age of 95
June Brown shares a cuddle with Lady Gaga, who she became close to after bonding backstage at the Graham Norton Show
June Brown and John Bardon in their roles as Dot and Jim Branning in EastEnders. They became one of the show’s most beloved couples
Viewers were captivated by her relationship with her tearaway son Nick, played by John Altman, who would die from a heroin overdose bought for him by Dot (pictured right)
June Brown is pictured at her book signing at Easons store in Dublin, Ireland.She is joined by two of her daughters Sophie and Naomi in 2013
A statement from Brown’s family said: ‘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.’
The actress’s 35-year run as the Albert Square mainstay began in 1985. before she left the show in 2020.
Brown was perhaps EastEnders’ best-known star and larger-than-life Dot was known for her devout Christian faith and hypochondria, as well as her endless cigarette addiction.
The veteran actress, who had a long career in television and theatre, arrived on Albert Square shortly after the soap began in 1985, and aside from a break between 1993 and 1997, was a regular for more than three decades.
On January 31 2008 she single-handedly starred in an episode called Pretty Baby, in which she spoke to a cassette recorder about her life so that her husband could listen to it as he lay in hospital following a stroke.
Brown served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service at the end of the Second World War, and then left to train at London’s Old Vic Theatre School in Lambeth.
After joining Albert Square she also starred in comedy Ain’t Misbehavin in 1997, and played Nanny Slagg in the BBC’s production of Gormenghast in 2000.
June Brown began her career after the war, training at the Old Vic in South London
Dot would always be taken advantage of by her son Nick, and he would always be forgiven by his Christian mother
Dot would find love with Jim, who proposed on the London Eye overlooking the Houses of Parliament
Eastenders actress June Brown stands outside Buckingham Palace in London after receiving an MBE for services to Drama and Charity in 2008
Eastenders cast with the award for TV Soap of the year during the 2017 Television and Radio Industries Club Awards, three years before she left the show
She announced the bombshell news of her exit from EastEnders in 2020 with little fanfare, revealing her decision on a podcast with a former co-star.
Dot had not featured in the soap for a month, when she left a voicemail for Sonia Fowler saying she had moved to Ireland.
At the time an EastEnders’ spokesman said the door remained open for a comeback, appearing to leave the decision in Brown’s hands.
Some of Dot’s biggest storylines explored controversial issues such as euthanasia, cancer and homophobia.
Her marriage to Jim Branning, played by John Bardon, was popular among fans – while she was also mother to the notorious criminal Nick Cotton, played by John Altman.
Brown won several awards for her portrayal of Dot, including a lifetime achievement honour at the 2005 British Soap Awards.
In 2009, she was nominated for the best actress prize at the TV Baftas for her standalone episode of the soap.
In December 2021 Brown was made an OBE in the New Year Honours, as she was recognised for services to drama and to charity.
She was previously made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2008 for services to drama and charity.
Brown married her first husband, John Garley, in 1950.
After his death she married actor Robert Arnold in 1958 and had six children with him.
