David Wayne

Personal Info

Known ForActing
Born1914-01-30
BirthplaceTraverse City - Michigan - USA

David Wayne

Acting

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.

Filmography

Acting (57)

2005
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awardsas Grandpère Bonnard (segment "The Happy Time") (archive footage)
7.2
1987
6.9
1987
The Survivalistas Dub Daniels
3.3
1984
Finders Keepersas Stapleton
5.5
6.2
1979
The Prize Fighteras Pop Morgan
5.3
1979
6.0
1978
The Gift of Loveas O'Henry and Narrator
6.7
1978
7.0
1977
In the Glitter Palaceas Nate Redstone
4.0
1976
That's Entertainment, Part IIas (archive footage)
7.0
1975
The Apple Dumpling Gangas T.R. Clydesdale
6.6
1975
Tubby the Tubaas Pee-Wee the Piccolo (voice)
8.0
1975
Ellery Queen: Too Many Suspectsas Insp. Richard Queen
8.0
4.4
1974
The Front Pageas Roy Bensinger
7.3
1974
Return of the Big Catas Grandpa Jubal
9.0
1974
Huckleberry Finnas The Duke
6.0
1972
The Catcheras Armand Faber
7.0
1971
Mooch Goes to Hollywoodas David Wayne (uncredited)
4.8
1971
9.0
1971
The Andromeda Strainas Dr. Charles Dutton
7.1
1970
The Boy Who Stole the Elephantas Colonel Rufus Ryder
4.0
1970
With These Handsas Narrator
1969
Arsenic and Old Laceas Teddy Brewster
7.0
1963
Marilynas archive footage
7.5
1961
The Big Gambleas Samuel Brennan
6.0
1961
8.0
1959
The Last Angry Manas Woodrow Thrasher
6.9
1957
7.2
1957
The Sad Sackas Corporal Larry Dolan
5.7
1957
The Jet-Propelled Couchas Dr. Kirk Allen
1956
The Naked Hillsas Tracy Powell
4.6
1955
The Tender Trapas Joe McCall
6.2
1954
Hell and High Wateras Tugboat Walker
6.0
1953
How to Marry a Millionaireas Freddie Denmark
6.8
1953
Down Among the Sheltering Palmsas Lt. Carl G. Schmidt
6.5
1953
Tonight We Singas Sol Hurok
9.5
1953
7.3
1952
O. Henry's Full Houseas Horace (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
6.9
1952
We're Not Married!as Jeff Norris
5.9
6.1
1951
As Young as You Feelas Joe Elliott
6.4
1951
Up Frontas Joe
7.0
1951
Mas Martin W. Harrow
6.5
1950
My Blue Heavenas Walter Pringle
7.5
1950
Stellaas Carl Granger
9.0
1950
7.6
1949
Adam's Ribas Kip Lurie
7.1
1948
Portrait of Jennieas Gus O'Toole
7.2
1944
Ditch and Liveas Pilot of Ditching B-17
1940
Stranger on the Third Flooras Cab Driver (uncredited)
6.5