June Havoc, Star of Stage and Screen, Dies at 96

June Havoc, among the last of Hollywood's true stars, died at the age of 96 on March 28th, though multiple birth certificates her mother kept make her exact age difficult to determine.  Her life became the basis for the musical Gypsy as the character of Baby June, of course.  True to the story as portrayed in the musical, Ellen Evangeline Hovick was born in Vancouver, became a child star on the Orpheum Circuit, and eloped with one of the male dancers in the show.  Ms. Havoc appeared on Broadway a number of times, starting with her 1936 debut in Forbidden Melody through her appearance as Ms. Hannigan late in the original run of the musical Annie, and originated the role of Gladys Bumps in the original production of Pal Joey in 1940.  She was nominated for a 1964 Best Director Tony Award for directing Marathon '33 which was adapted from her book Early Havoc.  Havoc had one child, April Kent (who died in 1998) and was married and divorced three times.