David Wayne

David Wayne

Acting
Born 1914-01-30 Traverse City - Michigan - USA 8 credit(s) Popularity 1
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 f...
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Biography

Profile information and background.

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

Main acting credits and shows.

The Golden Girls poster
The Golden Girls
as Big Daddy
1985-09-14
Crazy like a Fox poster
Crazy like a Fox
as Jennings Hyde
1984-12-30
Murder, She Wrote poster
Murder, She Wrote
as Cyrus Leffingwell
1984-09-30
St. Elsewhere poster
St. Elsewhere
as George Wyler
1982-10-26
Newhart poster
Newhart
as Mr. Pittman
1982-10-02
Matt Houston poster
Matt Houston
1982-09-26
Eight Is Enough poster
Eight Is Enough
1977-03-15
Ellery Queen poster
Ellery Queen
as Inspector Richard Queen
1975-09-11

Crew Credits

Directing, writing, production, and other work.

No crew credits available yet.