Donald Redding

Donald Redding (real name: Donald E. Payne) was born in Taft, California on December 15, 1948. His Father, Russell E. Payne was and oil worker and his mother, Betty G. (Boles) Payne was a grocery clerk. Payne spent his early years living in Taft and attended his first few years of school there. After remarrying, his mother and her new husband (Mervyn G. Cademartori) moved around the state of California, finally settling in the San Fernando Valley. In 1959, the Cademartori family (which now included another son, Steven L. Cademartori) relocated to Buena Park, California, where Payne finished his grade school years. He attended Walker Junior High School and John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, California (graduating in 1967). After high school, Payne lived in San Francisco while attending broadcasting school. He then lived for a year in Grants Pass, Oregon, where he free-lanced as a radio news reporter. Payne returned to the area of his birth in 1969 when he was hired as an on-the-air personality at KIFM-FM radio in Bakersfield, California. While still in high school, Payne was hired to perform as a costumed character in Disneyland's Christmas Parade (1966 and 1967). He was costumed as a Disney Fantasia "hippo" and performed as a "greeter" at the premiere of Walt Disney's animated feature "The Jungle Book" at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Payne became a full-time Disney character at Disneyland in December of 1966 when he was assigned to perform as "Pluto" at Disney's Anaheim, California theme park. He spent several years playing "Winnie the Pooh, " also. In 1978, Payne was cast as one of the comic leads in Disneylands famous, original "Golden Horseshoe Revue," in Frontierland. He was a "sub" for the acclaimed Wally Boag, who originated the part of the "Traveling Salesman / Pecos Bill" in the longest running stage show in history. During this period, Payne also functioned as a writer and performer for many Disney special events, stage shows and did some work voicing some of the Disney characters for "in-park" shows in Anaheim and Orlando. Payne left his full-time position at Disneyland in 1980 to become the Vice-President In Charge of Productions for Tom Carter Productions, an entertainment production company and animation studio, based in Irvine,CA. Payne left Orange County, California in 1986, relocating his family to the community of Crestline, California in the mountains high above and overlooking San Bernardino. There, he began a career in Residential Real Estate Sales, eventually obtaining his Real Estate Broker's license and earning the prestigeous "GRI" designation. In 2003, Payne left the mountain area to relocate to Victorville, California. He continues in his real estate careeer, but has shifted emphasis from the resale market to specializing as a New Homes Sales Associate, affiliated with The Ryness Company, a sales and marketing company providing services to new home builders and developers. He has earned the prestigous Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP) designation through the Sales and Marketing Council of the Inland Empire. Through the years, Payne (professionally known as Donald Redding) has maintained his acting career by appearing in numerous commercials, TV programs, stage shows and a motion picture, virtually shot in his own back yard. When asked why he postponed his dream of a professional acting career, Payne responded, "It was a matter of raising my young children in the best atmosphere possible. I feel my primary responsibility is to my family! After the kids have grown and left the nest... I'll be able to chase my dream of a career in films and on television!" Payne, in conjunction with his good friend, actor/comic/writer, Jim Adams (also a Disney veteran)is actively involved in the development and growth of "Prof. Productions," a Christian Entertainment Production Company and family outreach ministry. Payne maintains his active memberships in SAG, AFTRA and AGVA in case a "call comes in for an acting role."