David Wayne was an American actor who enjoyed a prolific career lasting 50 years, during which he starred in films like The Andromeda Strain (1971), Adam’s Rib (1949), With a Song in My Heart (1952), The Three Faces of Eve (1957), My Blue Heaven (1950), Hell and High Water (1954), Stella (1950), Portrait of Jennie (1948), The Prize Fighter (1979), etc.
Born Name
Wayne James McMeekan
Nick Name
David Wayne, Davey
David Wayne as seen in 1955 (Studio Publicity / Wikimedia / Public Domain)
Age
He was born on January 30, 1914.
Died
He passed away on February 9, 1995, at his home in Santa Monica, California from lung cancer at the age of 81 years.
Sun Sign
Aquarius
Born Place
Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Nationality
Education
Wayne graduated high school in 1931. He later studied business administration at Western Michigan University but dropped out after 2 years.
Moreover, he took acting lessons from the prestigious Actor’s Studio in New York City.
Occupation
Actor
Family
Father – John David McMeekan (Insurance Executive)
Mother – Helen Matilda Mason
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 9 in or 175 cm
Weight
67 kg or 147.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
David Wayne had dated –
Jane Gordon Trix (1941-1993) – On December 20, 1941, he tied the knot with actress Jane Gordon Trix. They welcomed twin daughters Susan Wayne and Melinda Wayne (b. 1946) as well as a son named Timothy Wayne (b. 1948) together. Sadly, Timothy lost his life during a rafting trip in August 1970 and was presumed dead since his body was never recovered. The couple stayed married for more than 50 years until Jane’s death on April 16, 1993.
David Wayne as seen with Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film How To Marry A Millionaire (Redlipsnleopardprint / Instagram)
Race / Ethnicity
White
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Green
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Big lips
David Wayne as seen with Jean Peters in the trailer for the 1951 film As Young as You Feel (Trailer Screenshot (20th Century Fox) / Wikimedia / Public Domain)
David Wayne Facts
In 1948, he was one of over 700 applicants to apply for membership at the newly formed Actors Studio and became among the 50 selected.
During the shooting of The Big Gamble (1961), Wayne came to the rescue of his co-star Stephen Boyd, who had nearly drowned while shooting one of the film’s scenes.
He received the Tony Award for ‘Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical)’ for his enchanting performance in the Broadway musical Finian’s Rainbow during the award show’s inaugural year in 1947. Furthermore, he took home his second Tony Award for ‘Best Actor (Dramatic)’ for The Teahouse of the August Moon in 1954. Lastly, he was also nominated in the ‘Best Actor (Musical)’ category for The Happy Time in 1968.
Wayne had starred alongside the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe in a total of 4 films: As Young as You Feel (1951), We’re Not Married! (1952), O. Henry’s Full House (1952), and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953).
His most prominent roles on Broadway were playing Og in Finian’s Rainbow (1947-1948), Ensign Pulver in Mister Roberts (1948-1951), and Sakini in The Teahouse of the August Moon (1953-1956). When these plays were turned into films, his roles were cast by Tommy Steele, Jack Lemmon, and Marlon Brando respectively.
In the year 1971, Wayne played 2 different and unrelated characters who were both named Charles Dutton. These were in the film The Andromeda Strain (1971) and the sitcom The Good Life (1971).
Featured Image by Studio Publicity / Wikimedia / Public Domain
