David Wayne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Wayne
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Wayne in 1955
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| Born |
Wayne James McMeekan
January 30, 1914 Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | February 9, 1995 (aged 81) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Western Michigan University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1936–1994 |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Gordon (1941–1993; her death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Theatre World Award (1947) Tony Award (1947, 1954) |
David Wayne (born Wayne James McMeekan, January 30, 1914 – February 9, 1995) was a famous American actor. He performed on stage, in movies, and on television for over 50 years.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Acting
David Wayne was born in Traverse City, Michigan. His mother passed away when he was only four years old. He grew up in a town called Bloomingdale, Michigan.
Wayne studied at Western Michigan University for two years. After that, he worked with numbers as a statistician in Cleveland. He began acting in 1936 with a theater group that performed plays by Shakespeare.
When World War II started, Wayne wanted to help. He became an ambulance driver for the British Army in North Africa. Later, he joined the United States Army when America entered the war.
After the war, Wayne got his first big role on Broadway. He played Og the leprechaun in a play called Finian's Rainbow. For this role, he won the Theatre World Award. He also won the very first Tony Award for a supporting actor in a musical.
He won another Tony Award for his role in The Teahouse of the August Moon. He was also nominated for an award for The Happy Time. David Wayne was the first actor to play Ensign Pulver in the funny play Mister Roberts.
Film and Television Roles
In movies, David Wayne often played supporting characters. These are actors who help the main story along. He was known for playing interesting and sometimes tricky characters. For example, he played a charming neighbor in the movie Adam's Rib (1949).
Wayne appeared in four movies with the famous actress Marilyn Monroe. This was more than any other actor! These movies included As Young as You Feel (1951) and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). He also starred with Frank Sinatra in The Tender Trap (1955).
In 1955, Wayne starred in a TV comedy called Norby. He also appeared in an episode of Twilight Zone called "Escape Clause". In the 1960s, he played the Mad Hatter. This was one of the bad guys in the popular Batman TV show.
David Wayne was also known for his role as Dr. Charles Dutton in the science fiction movie The Andromeda Strain (1971). He played Uncle Timothy Jamison in The Brian Keith Show. Later, he co-starred with Jim Hutton in the TV series Ellery Queen. In this show, he played Inspector Richard Queen.
In 1978, Wayne played James Lawrence in the TV drama Family. He also played Digger Barnes in the popular soap opera Dallas. Later, he starred as Dr. Amos Weatherby in the TV series House Calls.
Family Life
David Wayne married Jane Gordon in 1941. They had two daughters, Susan and Melinda, and a son named Timothy. Sadly, Timothy went missing during a rafting trip in August 1970 and was never found. Wayne's wife, Jane, passed away in 1993. Their daughter Susan passed away in 2019.
Wayne was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party.
Later Years and Passing
David Wayne passed away on February 9, 1995. He was 81 years old. He died at his home in Santa Monica, California, due to complications from lung cancer.
Awards and Recognitions
David Wayne won two Tony Awards during his career. He won one in 1947 for his role in Finian's Rainbow. He won his second Tony in 1954 for The Teahouse of the August Moon.
Images for kids
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Wayne in 1955
See also
In Spanish: David Wayne para niños
