June Wilkinson obit

Obituary: June Wilkinson (27 March 1940 – 21 July 2025)

 

She was not on the list.

June Wilkinson, one of the most iconic glamour models and actresses of the postwar era, passed away on 21 July 2025 at the age of 85. Born in Eastbourne on 27 March 1940, she rose from humble beginnings to international fame, earning the nickname “The Bosom” and becoming one of the most photographed women in America.

The daughter of a local window cleaner and a mother who sewed to support her dreams, June began performing at age 12 in Cinderella at Devonshire Park Theatre. By 15, she was a featured performer at London’s Windmill Theatre, known for its nude revues and cabaret. Her confidence, comedic timing, and striking figure made her an instant standout.

June's fame soared after moving to the U.S., where she became a Playboy favorite and later starred in films and television throughout the 1960s and 70s. Yet, despite the flash of Hollywood, she always held Eastbourne close to her heart. It was the town that shaped her, where a little girl in handmade dance shoes first dreamed of the stage.

In 1973, she married NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini, and they had one daughter, Brahna. Though she spent much of her life in America, June remained proudly British, often recalling her seaside childhood with warmth and humour.

She leaves behind not only her daughter Brahna but her brother Robin in Eastbourne and John in Berlin.

She will be fondly remembered in Eastbourne as a performer with presence, warmth, and wit and as a local girl who never forgot where she came from.

Actress

Three Bad Men (2005)

Three Bad Men

3.0

Billie

2005

 

Keaton's Cop (1990)

Keaton's Cop

4.2

Sandra ChanningBig Mama

1990

 

Medium Rare (1987)

Medium Rare

5.1

June Wilkinson (uncredited)

1987

 

Talking Walls (1987)

Talking Walls

3.0

Blonde

1987

 

Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (1986)

Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter

3.8

Mrs. Cromwell

1986

 

Texas Godfather (1985)

Texas Godfather

6.1

Audrey

1985

 

Frankenstein's Great Aunt Tillie (1984)

Frankenstein's Great Aunt Tillie

2.4

Randy

1984

 

Weed (1975)

Weed

4.5

Britt Claiborne

1975

 

Max Julien in The Mack (1973)

The Mack

6.6

(uncredited)

1973

 

Robert Young, Charlie Callas, Frank Gorshin, George Kirby, Steve Lawrence, Rich Little, and Marilyn Michaels in The ABC Comedy Hour (1972)

The ABC Comedy Hour

8.0

TV Series

1972

1 episode

 

The Doris Day Show (1968)

The Doris Day Show

7.2

TV Series

Laura

1971

1 episode

 

Adam West and Burt Ward in Batman (1966)

Batman

7.5

TV Series

Evelina

1968

2 episodes

 

The Candidate (1964)

The Candidate

5.7

Angela Wallace

1964

 

Who's Got the Action? (1962)

Who's Got the Action?

5.5

Bride (uncredited)

1962

 

Isela Vega and June Wilkinson in The Rage (1962)

The Rage

4.8

Rita the starlet

1962

 

June Wilkinson in The Bellboy and the Playgirls (1962)

The Bellboy and the Playgirls

2.7

Madame Wimpepoole (as June Wilkenson)

1962

 

The Continental Twist (1961)

The Continental Twist

5.5

Jenny Watson

1961

 

Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Edie Adams, Jack Kruschen, Jack Oakie, and Tony Randall in Lover Come Back (1961)

Lover Come Back

7.1

Sigrid Freud - Stripper on Standee (uncredited)

1961

 

Stella Stevens and Bobby Darin in Too Late Blues (1961)

Too Late Blues

6.8

Shorty - Girl at Bar (uncredited)

1961

 

Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip (1958)

77 Sunset Strip

7.7

TV Series

Little Maxine (uncredited)

1961

1 episode

 

Grand Jury (1959)

Grand Jury

7.1

TV Series

(uncredited)

1960

1 episode

 

Macumba Love (1960)

Macumba Love

4.7

Sara

1960

 

June Wilkinson in Career Girl (1960)

Career Girl

5.6

Joan

1960

 

Mickey Rooney and Mamie Van Doren in The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1960)

The Private Lives of Adam and Eve

4.3

Saturday

1960

 

Mr. Tease and His Playthings (1959)

Mr. Tease and His Playthings

4.6

Bosom in Blue SweaterTopless Bosom in Window (uncredited)

1959

 

Susan Hayward and Jeff Chandler in Thunder in the Sun (1959)

Thunder in the Sun

5.5

Buxom Blonde at Marie's Place (uncredited)

1959

 

Producer

The Directors (1997)

The Directors

7.5

TV Series

segment producer

1999–2007

8 episodes

 

Thanks

The Directors (1997)

The Directors

7.5

TV Series

special thanks

2000–2001

2 episodes

 

Soundtrack

The Candidate (1964)

The Candidate

5.7

performer: "The Girl in the Bikini with No Top on Top"

1964

 

Self

The Bob Braun Show (1967)

The Bob Braun Show

2.6

TV Series

Self - Actress

1978

1 episode

 

Hollywood Blue (1970)

Hollywood Blue

6.2

1970

 

Regis Philbin and Bob Crane in Philbin's People (1969)

Philbin's People

6.2

TV Series

Self

1970

2 episodes

 

The Dennis Wholey Show (1969)

The Dennis Wholey Show

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

Mike Douglas in The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

The Mike Douglas Show

7.1

TV Series

Self

1966–1969

2 episodes

 

Gypsy (1965)

Gypsy

7.8

TV Series

Self - Playboy modelSelf - actress

1966–1968

2 episodes

 

That Regis Philbin Show (1964)

That Regis Philbin Show

8.0

TV Series

Self

1965

2 episodes

 

Archive Footage

3-D Rarities (2015)

3-D Rarities

8.0

(archive footage)

2015