Quick Facts
Born:
1914-01-30
Birthplace:
Traverse City - Michigan - USA
Credits:
119 Total Roles
David Wayne
Acting
The MovieWise Take
Refining cinematic analysis...
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.
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
The Twilight Zone
Walter Bedeker
The Andromeda Strain
Dr. Charles Dutton
Batman
The Mad Hatter
How to Marry a Millionaire
Freddie Denmark
Murder, She Wrote
Cyrus Leffingwell
The Front Page
Roy Bensinger
The Golden Girls
Big Daddy
Adam's Rib
Kip Lurie
Full Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards MOVIE | Grandpère Bonnard (segment "The Happy Time") (archive footage) |
| 1987 | Poker Alice MOVIE | Amos |
| 1987 | The Survivalist MOVIE | Dub Daniels |
| 1986 | Masters of Photography - Edward Steichen MOVIE | Narrator (voice) |
| 1985 | The Golden Girls TV | Big Daddy |
| 1984 | Crazy like a Fox TV | Jennings Hyde |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote TV | Cyrus Leffingwell |
| 1984 | Finder of Lost Loves TV | Professor Wheeler |
| 1984 | Finders Keepers MOVIE | Stapleton |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere TV | George Wyler |