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David Wayne
AKA: Wayne James McMeekan
Acting
Born: 1914
Traverse City - Michigan - USA
37 Global Credits
🔥 1 Popularity
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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
Full Credits
| Show / Title | Year | Credit / Role |
|---|---|---|
| The Golden Girls | 1985 | Big Daddy |
| Crazy like a Fox | 1984 | Jennings Hyde |
| Murder, She Wrote | 1984 | Cyrus Leffingwell |
| St. Elsewhere | 1982 | George Wyler |
| Newhart | 1982 | Mr. Pittman |
| Matt Houston | 1982 | Contributor |
| Eight Is Enough | 1977 | Contributor |
| Ellery Queen | 1975 | Inspector Richard Queen |
| Switch | 1975 | Dancer |
| Barney Miller | 1975 | E.J. Heiss |
| Barnaby Jones | 1973 | Raymond Lennox / 'Steele' |
| The Streets of San Francisco | 1972 | Wally Sensibaugh |
| Banacek | 1972 | Walter Tyson |
| Night Gallery | 1970 | Dr. Mill |
| Hawaii Five-O | 1968 | Monsieur Bordeaux |
| The Name of the Game | 1968 | Emory Ward |
| Mannix | 1967 | Contributor |
| CBS Playhouse | 1966 | George Spears |
| Batman | 1966 | The Mad Hatter |
| Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | 1963 | George Holloway |
| Burke's Law | 1963 | Al 'The Bomber' Devlin |
| The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | 1962 | Andrew Anderson |
| The Virginian | 1962 | Martin Reese |
| Sam Benedict | 1962 | Contributor |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1961 | Self |
| Route 66 | 1960 | Contributor |
| Outlaws | 1960 | Contributor |
| Naked City | 1958 | Herbert Konish |
| Suspicion | 1957 | James Mennick |
| Tonight Starring Jack Paar | 1957 | Self |
| Tony Awards | 1956 | Self - Performer |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | 1955 | Sam Jacoby |
| Gunsmoke | 1955 | Judge Warfield |
| The Wonderful World of Disney | 1954 | Grandpa Jubal |
| Omnibus | 1952 | Contributor |
| What's My Line? | 1950 | Self |
| Studio One | 1948 | Jasper Hornby |