June Shirley Kirby (January 5, 1928 – March 6, 2022) was an American actress and model, who spent most of her career as a wardrobe mistress in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

productions' costume departments. She was a

showgirl A showgirl is a female performer in a theatrical revue who wears an exotic and revealing costume and in some shows may appear topless. Showgirls are usually dancers, sometimes performing as chorus girls, burlesque dancers or fan dancers, and ...

at The Diamond Horseshoe in the late

forties Forties may refer to: * 40s, the years 40–49 AD *1940s, the years 1940–1949 * Long Forties, area in the North Sea *The Forties shipping forecast area (roughly corresponding to the Long Forties) * Forties oilfield in the North Sea ** Forties p ...

and was spotted by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

which offered her a couple of film parts as a Goldwyn Girl such as in

Vincente Minnelli Vincente Minnelli (; born Lester Anthony Minnelli; February 28, 1903 – July 25, 1986) was an American Theatre director, stage director and film director. From a career spanning over half a century, he is best known for his sophisticated innovat ...

's ''Kismet'' (1955) and

Joseph L. Mankiewicz Joseph Leo Mankiewicz (; February 11, 1909 – February 5, 1993) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. A four-time Academy Award winner, he is best known for his witty and literate dialogue and his preference for voice-over ...

's ''Guys and Dolls'' (1955) featured opposite

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''

, Larri Thomas and Pat Sheehan. Kirby also performed on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

in ''

As the Girls Go ''As the Girls Go'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music by Jimmy McHugh, lyrics by Harold Adamson and a book by William Roos (writer), William Roos. After an out-of-town tryout at the Opera House in Boston in October 1948, the original Broa ...

'' (1948-1950), and '' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes''.

Early years

Born in

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough (New York City), borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded by Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Sunset Park to the north, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, Dyker Heights to the east, the Nar ...

, Kirby was raised in

Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous

and earned a diploma at

James J. Ferris High School James J. Ferris High School is a four-year Comprehensive high school, comprehensive state school, public Secondary education in the United States, high school serving students in ninth grade, ninth through twelfth grades from Jersey City, New Je ...

Jersey City Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous

. She later attended

Kingston University Kingston University London is a Public university, public research university located within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, in South London, South West London, England. Its roots go back to the Kingston Technical Institute, founded ...

where she studied fashion.

Career

Kirby worked as a model. In 1946, she was named "posture queen of America" by the National Chiropractic Association. She was in ''Famous Models Magazine'' dated June 1950. In 1955, Kirby worked as the wardrobe mistress for the British science fiction film ''Timeslip'', also known as ''The Atomic Man''. Her role involved overseeing the costume department and ensuring the visual consistency of the characters' attire. In 1971, she served as the wardrobe mistress for the British comedy film ''On the Buses'', contributing to the costume design and maintenance for the cast.

Personal life

Kirby dated men such as

Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney (born Ninnian Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor. In a career spanning nearly nine decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last survivi ...

. She married Roy B. Whitlock on August 20, 1960, and they had a daughter named Shawn. Whitlock died on December 23, 1984. She later married Bob Przybysz. Kirby died on March 6, 2022, aged 94, in

Aiken, South Carolina Aiken is the most populous city in, and the county seat of, Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. According to 2020 census, the population was 32,025, making it the 15th-most populous city in South Carolina, and one of the two largest ci ...

Filmography

Actress

Costume designer

Wardrobe department

Special effects

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kirby, June 1928 births 2022 deaths 21st-century American women Actresses from Jersey City, New Jersey American film actresses American female models American musical theatre actresses James J. Ferris High School alumni People from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Actresses from Brooklyn