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David Wayne

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.

Known For

Filmography

as Grandpère Bonnard (segment "The Happy Time") (archive footage)
as Amos
as Dub Daniels
as Self (from How to Marry a Millionaire [1953]) (archive footage)
as Narrator (voice)
as Big Daddy
as Jennings Hyde
as Cyrus Leffingwell
as Professor Wheeler
as Stapleton
as
1982 Newhart
as Mr. Pittman
as
as Bill Houston
as Amos Weatherby
as Merrivale
as Pop Morgan
as Ben Nayfack
as O'Henry and Narrator