David Wayne
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.
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.
Known For
111 titles
In the Glitter Palace
Finders Keepers
Hell and High Water
Stella
Portrait of Jennie
Huckleberry Finn
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
The Catcher
The Gift of Love
The Sad Sack
My Blue Heaven
Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie
The Tender Trap
An American Christmas Carol
The I Don't Care Girl
With a Song in My Heart
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!
Lassie: The New Beginning
The Naked Hills
Ellery Queen: Too Many Suspects
The F.B.I. Story: The FBI Versus Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One
Poker Alice
Murder at the Mardi Gras
Tubby the Tuba
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