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

The Golden Girls 1985 ★ 7.6
Murder, She Wrote 1984 ★ 7.5
Newhart 1982 ★ 7.2
St. Elsewhere 1982 ★ 5.7
Matt Houston 1982 ★ 6.3
Dallas 1978 ★ 6.9
Barney Miller 1975 ★ 7.3
Barnaby Jones 1973 ★ 7.0
The Streets of San Francisco 1972 ★ 7.0
Night Gallery 1970 ★ 7.8
Hawaii Five-O 1968 ★ 7.2
The Name of the Game 1968 ★ 7.0
Ironside 1967 ★ 6.9
Mannix 1967 ★ 6.8
Batman 1966 ★ 7.3
Burke's Law 1963 ★ 6.3
The Virginian 1962 ★ 6.5
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 1962 ★ 7.9
Route 66 1960 ★ 6.7
The Twilight Zone 1959 ★ 8.5
Naked City 1958 ★ 5.7
Gunsmoke 1955 ★ 6.7
Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1955 ★ 7.8
Studio One 1948 ★ 5.4