He displayed his musical talents as co star to Judy Garland on her 1955 TV Special. Singing and dancing, he took Fred Astaire's part with Judy in the reenactment of the "Couple Of Swells" segment from "Easter Parade"(1948).
He was erroneously reported as being killed in action when the Germans were victorious at the Battle of Tobruk in North Africa.
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 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."
Played two consecutive unrelated characters both named Charles Dutton, in The Andromeda Strain (1971) and "The Good Life" (1971).
Rejected by the army he volunteered as an ambulance driver for the British in North Africa; after the U.S joined the war he served in the US Army.
Retired completely in 1993 after the death of his beloved wife of 52 years, Jane Gordon.
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.
Twin daughters Susan Wayne Kearney and Melinda Wayne. Son Timothy, deceased.
Westport, Connecticut was Wayne's home for decades.