David Wayne

David Wayne

1914-01-30 – 1995-02-09 (age 81) Traverse City - Michigan - USA
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Biography

David Wayne (January 30, 1914 – February 9, 1995) was an American actor with a career spanning nearly 50 years.

Wayne was born Wayne James McMeekan in Traverse City, Michigan, the son of Helen Matilda (née Mason) and John David McMeekan. He grew up in Bloomingdale, Michigan. Wayne's first major Broadway role was Og the leprechaun in Finian's Rainbow, for which he won the Theatre World Award and the first ever Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. While appearing in the play, he and co-star Albert Sharpe were recruited by producer David O. Selznick to play Irish characters in the film Portrait of Jennie (1948).

It was in 1948 as well that Wayne became one of those fortunate 50 applicants (out of approximately 700) granted membership in New York's newly formed Actors Studio. He was awarded a second Tony for Best Actor in a Play for The Teahouse of the August Moon and was nominated as Best Actor in a Musical for The Happy Time. He originated the role of Ensign Pulver in the classic stage comedy Mister Roberts and also appeared in Say, Darling, After the Fall, and Incident at Vichy.

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Known For

How to Marry a Millionaire
How to Marry a Millionaire

1953

as Freddie Denmark

The Andromeda Strain
The Andromeda Strain

1971

as Dr. Charles Dutton

The Front Page
The Front Page

1974

as Roy Bensinger

Adam's Rib
Adam's Rib

1949

as Kip Lurie

Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn

1974

as The Duke

The Three Faces of Eve
The Three Faces of Eve

1957

as Ralph White

Stella
Stella

1950

as Carl Granger

Poker Alice
Poker Alice

1987

as Amos

Finders Keepers
Finders Keepers

1984

as Stapleton

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!
Portrait of Jennie
Portrait of Jennie

1948

as Gus O'Toole

O. Henry's Full House
O. Henry's Full House

1952

as Horace (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")

The Tender Trap
The Tender Trap

1955

as Joe McCall

The Apple Dumpling Gang
The Apple Dumpling Gang

1975

as T.R. Clydesdale

That's Entertainment, Part II
That's Entertainment, Part II

1976

as (archive footage)

Hell and High Water
Hell and High Water

1954

as Tugboat Walker

M
M

1951

as Martin W. Harrow

Lassie: The New Beginning
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

2005

as Grandpère Bonnard (segment "The Happy Time") (archive footage)