June Muriel Brown MBE (born 16th February 1927 in Suffolk, died 3rd April 2022 in Surrey) was an English actress who portrayed Dot Branning in EastEnders from July 1985 to August 1993 and from April 1997 to January 2020. Dot is one of the most popular characters in the history of EastEnders.
Brown originally wanted to pursue a medical career; it wasn't until she saw an advertisement in The Times about an audition at The Old Vic Theatre School that she considered taking up acting as a profession and after writing to the theatre, gained an audition and a place. Brown was later taken on tour and landed in Sweden to take part in the production The Taming of the Shrew. In 1970 she landed the role of Mrs Parsons in Coronation Street and later returned to the role for a short stint the following year. She then went on to appear in the theatre production The National alongside Judith Dench.
She landed the part of Dorothy Cotton in 1985, the nosey but loveable hypochondriac chain-smoking Christian mother of the bad boy Nick Cotton. By the time Brown had landed the role of Dot she had had a dreadful year, only having three jobs in that year. Brown stated that she landed the part because she was punctual. Brown remained in the role of Dot for eight consecutive years before taking a four-year break. Brown was one of the most significant figures in soap opera history as she was the only actress to carry out an entire single-handed episode in 2008 and in the same year was awarded the MBE.
Brown died on 3rd April 2022 at the age of 95. Her family said she died "peacefully" at her home in Surrey.