EastEnders’ June Brown blamed herself for first husband’s tragic death
EastEnders Dot Cotton star June Brown was married for more than 60 years but the late actress experienced a terrible tragedy during her first marriage in the 50s
EastEnders’ June Brown has experienced her fair share of tragedy in life.
Fans were devastated in April 2022 when it was announced June had passed away aged 95. The actress was best known for playing Walford matriarch Dot Cotton for more than three decades on the BBC soap.
Years before she made her debut as the iconic character, the late star met fellow actor John Garley at the age of 23. The couple fell for each other while performing at the Old Vic and tied the knot just months after meeting in 1950.
Their marriage wasn’t easy however, with June and John both cheating on each other. Despite salvaging their marriage, John had his own demons.
He suffered with depression and tragically took his own life in 1957. Previously speaking about her husband’s sudden death, June recalled: “I walked into the bedroom and there was Johnny, lying on the bed.”
June, who would have celebrated her 97th birthday today (February 16) added: “Suicide was still a criminal offence in the late-Fifties. I’d got him breathing again but it was obvious he’d suffered severe brain damage.
“He lasted three days in hospital before dying on May 8.” In her autobiography, titled Before The Year Dot, June explained that she blamed herself for John’s death.
She had left him money for the gas meter and questions whether things would be different if she never made that decision. The star wrote: “I didn’t want to think that if I hadn’t left him the one and eight pence he wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
June found love again when she met actor Robert Arnold. They married in 1958 and welcomed six children in seven years, one of who sadly died in infancy.
Together, June and Robert welcomed six children in the space of seven years – although one of their children sadly died in infancy. The couple were together for 45 years, until Robert passed away from Lewy-body dementia in 2003.
