June Drake

June Drake acted professionally as Liz Marshall. She began her professional life as a dancer, working on and off Broadway. June soon began working in summer stock productions. In the 1940s, she moved to Hollywood. She appeared in many productions at the Pasadena Playhouse. While appearing in a B western, June met writer/director Oliver Drake. He was making a series of Sunset Carson films. This began a life-long partnership. June continued to act as Liz Marshall, including the TV shows Gunsmoke (1955) and Divorce Court (1957). In the late 1960s, she worked with the Lawrence Parke Theatre. She received rave reviews in their production of "Loss of Roses." William Inge came to see the production and declared her the best "Lila" he had ever seen. She also collaborated with Oliver Drake on many scripts (for which she did not always receive credit!) including Lassie (1954) and 26 Men (1957). June spent many hours at the typewriter, talking through story ideas with Oliver. In his later years, she helped him to write two books, "Stuntman" the autobiography of Yakima Canutt, and his own biography "Written Produced & Directed by Oliver Drake."