June Allyson, a movie actress who gained fame in the 1940's playing "girl-next-door" roles, has died at age 88.
Her daughter announced Monday that Allyson died of respiratory failure Saturday at her home in Ojai, California.
Allyson played Jo in the 1949 film version of Little Women. She also played the wives of characters played by Jimmy Stewart, Van Johnson, and other movie heroes. She was often cast in wholesome roles as an ideal sweetheart or wife.
She began her career as a dancer in stage shows in her native New York, and after her movie career ended in the late 1950's, she appeared in U.S. television productions.
Allyson was married three times. Survivors include David Ashrow, her husband of 30 years, and two children from her first marriage.
Some information for this report was provided by Ap and Bloomberg.