June Havoc, a renowned Canadian-American actress, dancer, writer, and stage director, was born Ellen June Evangeline Hovick. She began her career as a child vaudeville performer under the guidance of her mother, Rose Thompson Hovick.
As a young performer, Havoc acted on Broadway and in Hollywood, and later transitioned to stage direction, both on and off-Broadway. Her final television appearance was in 1990, on the popular soap opera General Hospital.
Havoc's sister, Louise, also pursued a career in the entertainment industry, but took a different path. Louise became the well-known striptease performer Gypsy Rose Lee, while Havoc's talent often overshadowed her sister's in their vaudeville performances.
Despite her early success, Havoc's childhood was marked by challenges. She was unable to speak until the age of three, but went on to star in silent films. She would often cry for the cameras, as her mother would tell her that the family's dog had died.
In 1928, Havoc eloped with Bobby Reed, a boy from her vaudeville act, in an effort to escape her overbearing mother. However, the marriage was short-lived, and Havoc soon married Weldon Hyde. The couple had a daughter, April Rose Hyde, who became an actress known as April Kent in the 1950s.
April predeceased her mother, passing away in Paris in 1998. Havoc's marriage to Hyde did not last, but the two remained on friendly terms. Throughout her life, Havoc remained dedicated to her craft, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment.
