John Payne mini-bio: John Payne (May 28, 1912 - December 6, 1989) was an American movie actor who is mainly remembered as a singer in 20th Century-Fox film musicals, as well as his leading role in Miracle on 34th Street.
Payne toured with several Shubert Brothers shows, and frequently sang on New York-based radio programs. In 1936, he was offered a contract by Samuel Goldwyn, and he left New York for Hollywood. He worked for various studios until 1940, when he signed with 20th-Century Fox. Fox made him a star, in 1940s musicals like Tin Pan Alley (1940), Sun Valley Serenade (1941}, and Weekend in Havana (also 1941). A highlight during this period was co-starring with Gene Tierney and Tyrone Power in The Razor's Edge (1946).
Payne's most popular role may be in his final film for Fox, that of attorney Fred Gailey in Miracle on 34th Street (1947). It is almost certainly his most visible role, as it typically receives frequent airplay during the Christmas season.
Later in his career Payne changed his image and began playing tough-guy roles in Hollywood films noir and westerns including Kansas City Confidential (1952), 99 River Street (1953), Silver Lode (1954), Tennessee's Partner (1955) and Slightly Scarlet (1956). Payne was a contract star with Pine-Thomas Productions where he shrewedly insisted that the films he appeared in be filmed in colour and that the rights to the films reverted to him after several years that made him wealthy when he rented them to television.[1]
Payne also starred in a television western series, The Restless Gun (1957-59). In 1955, he paid a $1,000-a-month option for nine months on the Ian Fleming James Bond novel Moonraker (he eventually gave up the option when he learned he could not retain the rights for the entire book series).
In May 1961, Payne suffered extensive, life-threatening injuries when struck by a car in New York City. His recovery took two years. In his later roles, facial scars from the accident can be detected in close-ups; he chose not to have them removed. One of Payne's first public appearances during this period was as a guest panelist on the popular CBS-TV game show What's My Line. Dorothy Kilgallen and the other panelists on the episode congratulated Payne on his recovery and wished him well. (Source: Game Show Network rebroadcast, February 8, 2006).
Payne directed one of his last films, They Ran for Their Lives (1968). His final role was in 1975 when he co-starred with Peter Falk and Janet Leigh in Columbo: Forgotten Lady. Later in life, Payne became wealthy through real estate investments in Southern California
