John Payne

Acting

John Payne

Born May 28, 1912 · Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Died December 6, 1989 · aged 77

John Payne was an American stage, screen, and television actor. He is best remembered as a singer in 20th Century Fox musical films and for his roles in Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and the television series The Restless Gun (1957-1959).

Known For

Miracle on 34th StreetMiracle on 34th Street · 1947
Miracle on 34th Street
★ 7.41947
MovieComedyDrama
Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy's following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to question if he truly is Santa Claus, while others question his sanity.
The Crooked WayThe Crooked Way · 1949
The Crooked Way
★ 6.21949
MovieCrimeDrama
A war veteran suffering from amnesia, returns to Los Angeles from a San Francisco veterans hospital hoping to learn who he is and discovers his criminal past.
Slightly ScarletSlightly Scarlet · 1956
Slightly Scarlet
★ 6.21956
MovieCrimeDrama
Kleptomaniac Dorothy Lyons is paroled from prison into the custody of her sister June, secretary to "reform" politician Frank Jansen. Ben Grace, associate of crime boss Sol "Solly" Caspar, sees this as a way to smear Jansen's campaign. Seductive Dorothy will do anything to get what she wants, which includes having a good time with Ben-- whom June is now in love with.
Kansas City ConfidentialKansas City Confidential · 1952
Kansas City Confidential
★ 7.01952
MovieCrime
An ex-convict sets out to uncover who framed him for an armored car robbery.
The Razor's EdgeThe Razor's Edge · 1946
The Razor's Edge
★ 6.91946
MovieDramaRomance
An adventurous young man goes off to find himself and loses his socialite fiancée in the process. But when he returns 10 years later, she will stop at nothing to get him back, even though she is already married.
Hold Back the NightHold Back the Night · 1956
Hold Back the Night
★ 6.41956
MovieWarDrama
A Marine officer goes through Korea with the bottle of Scotch that his wife gave him in the last war.
Hidden FearHidden Fear · 1957
Hidden Fear
★ 5.51957
MovieCrimeThriller
A U.S. lawman busts Copenhagen counterfeiters to help his sister, falsely accused of murder.
Silver LodeSilver Lode · 1954
Silver Lode
★ 6.21954
MovieWestern
Dan Ballard, a respected citizen in the western town of Silver Lode, has his wedding interrupted by four men led by Ned McCarty, an old acquaintance who, as a US Marshal, arrests Ballard for the murder of his brother and the theft of $20,000. Ballard seeks to stall McCarty while tracking down evidence that will prove his innocence.

Filmography

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The Dick Powell ShowThe Dick Powell Show · 1961
The Dick Powell Show
★ 5.71961
SeriesDramaComedy
The Dick Powell Show is an American anthology series that ran on NBC from 1961- 1963, primarily sponsored by the Reynolds Metals Company. It was hosted by longtime film star Dick Powell until his death from lymphatic cancer on January 2, 1963, then by a series of guest hosts until the series ended. The first of these was Gregory Peck, who began the January 8 program with a tribute to Powell, recognizing him as "a great and good friend to our industry." Peck was followed by fellow actors such as Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Ford, Charles Boyer, Jackie Cooper, Rock Hudson, Milton Berle, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin, Robert Taylor, Steve McQueen, David Niven, Danny Thomas, Robert Wagner and John Wayne.

James J. Fitts

The Restless GunThe Restless Gun · 1957
The Restless Gun
★ 4.41957
SeriesWestern
The Restless Gun is an American western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Civil War. A skilled gunfighter, Bonner is an idealistic person who prefers peaceful resolutions of conflict wherever possible. He is gregarious, intelligent, and public-spirited. The half-hour black-and-white program aired seventy-eight episodes. Jeanne Bates appeared in varying roles with Payne in five episodes of The Restless Gun. The Restless Gun theme song begins: "I ride with the wind, my eyes on the sun, and my hand on my restless gun..." The song composer is probably Paul Dunlap, credited as the primary series composer, but could have been contributed to by either of the two other series composers, Dave Kahn and Stanley Wilson, also. Two versions are currently posted on YouTube, but neither posting lists any composer or performance credits.

Producer