Trivia

Retired completely in 1993 after the death of his beloved wife of 52 years, Jane Gordon.

Rejected by the US army, he volunteered as an ambulance driver for the British in North Africa; after the US joined the war, he served in the US army.

His son, Timothy Wayne, disappeared and was presumed drowned while canoeing with a friend near Yellowknife, in Canada's Northwest Territory, in August 1970. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police discovered an overturned canoe, two life jackets and two paddles but no bodies.

In 1947, the first year that Broadway's Tony Awards were presented, he won the Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) Award for "Finian's Rainbow". He subsequently won a second Tony Award in 1954 as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "The Teahouse of the August Moon", and was also nominated in 1968 as Best Actor (Musical) for "The Happy Time".

He displayed his musical talents as co-star to Judy Garland on her 1955 television special. Singing and dancing, he took Fred Astaire's part with Judy in the reenactment of the "Couple of Swells" segment from Parade de printemps (1948).

Had twin daughters, Susan Wayne Kearney and Melinda Wayne, and one son, Timothy Wayne.

Three of his biggest roles on Broadway--Og in "Finian's Rainbow", Ensign Pulver in "Mister Roberts" and Sakini in "The Teahouse of the August Moon"--were handed to other actors when they transferred to film: Tommy Steele, Jack Lemmon and Marlon Brando, respectively.

It has been reported that he performed in the greatest number of movies (four) with Marilyn Monroe: Rendez-moi ma femme (1951), Cinq mariages à l'essai (1952), La sarabande des pantins (1952) and Comment épouser un millionnaire (1953).

Westport, CT, was his home for decades.

Erroneously reported as being killed in action when the Germans were victorious at the Battle of Tobruk in North Africa.

He played two consecutive unrelated characters both named Charles Dutton: Le mystère Andromède (1971) and The Good Life (1971).

Under his real name of Wayne James McMeekan, he was in his early career a puppeteer for the Tatterman Marionettes, particularly in their elaborate "Peer Gynt".

Actor Stephen Boyd credits David Wayne for saving his life during production of the 1961 picture The Big Gamble. Mr. Boyd says he surely would have drown if it wasn't for Mr. Wayne. This statement was made by Mr. Boyd himself when he was a guest on the television series What's My Line.

He was a lifelong Democrat.

Parents are John David McMeekan and Helen Matilda Mason.

He was cremated after death and his ashes were given to his family.