June MacCloy
USA- Early Life and Career
- Broadway Breakthrough
- Hollywood Debut
- Film and Stage Success
- Later Career and Personal Life
Early Life and Career
June McCloy was born on June 2, 1909 (though she later claimed 1915) in Sturgis, Michigan. She relocated to Toledo, Ohio as a child. Blessed with a statuesque figure, a radiant smile, and a rich contralto voice, June pursued a career in theater. In 1928, she joined the cast of Earl Carroll's "Vanities" but her mother forbade her from participating due to the show's revealing costumes.
Broadway Breakthrough
As a teenager, McCloy was spotted by songwriter and producer Lou Brown, who paired her with renowned performer Harry Richman in "George White's Scandals." The show premiered on July 2, 1928, and ran for an impressive 230 performances.
Just before her film debut, June performed at New York nightclubs such as the Abbey and the Chateau Madrid. She also toured with the Parkington & Thomas vaudeville troupe, which featured a young Vincente Minnelli, later an acclaimed director and father of Liza Minnelli.
Hollywood Debut
June McCloy's film debut came in 1930 with Paramount Pictures' "Reaching for the Moon," where she played Kitty, the witty best friend of the protagonist. Her next significant film was "June Moon" in March 1931.
Film and Stage Success
In the early 1930s, McCloy appeared in at least nine films. She also graced the silver screen in Technicolor's second feature-length film, "Good Morning, Eve!" (1934), which paved the way for color cinema. Her final leading role came in the Western musical "Go West" (late 1940s), alongside comedian Groucho Marx.
Later Career and Personal Life
June McCloy's acting career diminished after her marriage, although she briefly returned to the screen for an uncredited role in "Unholy Partners" (1941). She was married three times, twice ending in divorce, and had two children with her last husband, architect and jazz enthusiast Neil Wendell Butler. McCloy passed away of natural causes on May 5, 2005, at the age of 95.
