- published: 16 Oct 2010
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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).
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.
In films, Wayne most often was cast as a supporting player, such as the charming cad opposite Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in Adam's Rib (1949). He portrayed the child killer, originally played by Peter Lorre, in the remake of M (1951), a chance to see him in a rare leading role, even rarer as an evil character. He costarred in The Tender Trap (1955) with Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, and Celeste Holm.
Actors: Cynthia LeBlanc (actress), Jennifer Garner (actress), Jay Oliver (actor), Steve Zahn (actor), Denis O'Hare (actor), Logan Douglas Smith (actor), James DuMont (actor), Douglas M. Griffin (actor), Jared Leto (actor), Griffin Dunne (actor), Elton LeBlanc (actor), Matthew McConaughey (actor), J.D. Evermore (actor), Wendy Cohen (miscellaneous crew), Cassian Elwes (producer),
Plot: Dallas 1985. Electrician and sometimes rodeo bull rider Ron Woodroof lives hard, which includes heavy smoking, drinking, drug use (primarily cocaine) and casual sex. He is a stereotypical redneck: racist and homophobic. While in the hospital on a work related injury, the doctors discover and inform him that he is HIV+, and that he will most-likely die within thirty days. Ron is initially in angry denial that he would have a disease that only "faggots" have, but upon quick reflection comes to the realization that the diagnosis is probably true. He begins to read whatever research is available about the disease, which at this time seems to be most effectively treated by the drug AZT. AZT, however, is only in the clinical trials stage within the US. Incredulous that he, as a dying man, cannot pay for any drug which may save or at least prolong his life, he goes searching for it by whatever means possible. It eventually leads him to Mexico and a "Dr." Vass, an American physician whose license was revoked in the US because of his AIDS related work against US regulations. Dr. Vass leads Ron to a cocktail of other drugs, some vitamins, he believes are more effective in treating the symptoms, since the virus, as Ron learns, will always be in the system of those who have been exposed to it. Ron begins to smuggle these drugs not approved by the FDA into the US, not only for his own use but for sale to other HIV+ persons. In this venture, he goes into an unlikely partnership with a HIV+ transvestite named Rayon, who he met in the hospital and who has greater contact with AIDS patients through the gay community. As they try to work both above ground to get the meds to those that need them and underground to avoid detection by especially the FDA, Ron comes up with an idea to circumvent the fact of selling the drugs - which are not considered drugs yet since they are not FDA approved - directly to the HIV+ population, which then should should not be against the law. Richard Barkley and Dr. Sevard, the FDA's lead man on the file and one of Ron's doctors respectively, the latter who sees clinical trials as the only way to determine the efficacy of drugs despite the fact that Ron and others would have probably died already without these drugs, try to stop Ron and Rayon at every turn. Caught in the middle is Dr. Eve Saks, another of Ron's doctors, who understands why policies are place, but who can sympathize with Ron, Rayon and others - all her patients, directly or indirectly - in their situation.
Keywords: 1980s, activist, aids, airplane, bare-chested-male, based-on-true-story, border-crossing, briefs, cell-phone, chinaActors: Stack Pierce (actor), Johan Kruger (miscellaneous crew), John Barrett (actor), Patrick Dollaghan (actor), Anne E. Curry (actress), Lionel A. Ephraim (producer), Simon Grimley (editor), Suanne Braun (actress), Mathew Stewardson (actor), Robert J. Smawley (writer), Robert J. Smawley (director), Chris Davis (producer),
Plot: A down-on-his-luck, struggling writer hits rock bottom just when he meets a sexy policewoman. But bad luck seems to follow him like a lost puppy and just when things start looking up, a story sold, a new camper and a new love life, his adventure of misfortune begins again.
Keywords: independent-film, rock-bottom, writerActors: Henry Edwards (director), Henry Vibart (actor), Chrissie White (actress), Cecil M. Hepworth (producer), Henry Edwards (actor), Judd Green (actor), Francis Lister (actor), Tom Gallon (writer), Stephen Ewart (actor), Bob Russell (actor),
Genres: Romance,