John Payne - American actor, Hollywood star of the first magnitude

John Payne is an American film actor, one of the most notable performers of roles in musical films of the early forties. Charismatic appearance mixed with sex appeal made him the idol of millions of women around the world.

Childhood and youth

John Payne, an actor whose biography began May 23, 1912, was born in Roanoke, Virginia. The child was born in the family of a successful businessman and an opera singer. Little Johnny grew up surrounded by numerous servants, swimming in pools and riding horses. His childhood was cloudless, and when the boy opened his musical abilities at the age of five, his parents hired teachers for him who tried to develop their talent.

In 1929, a stock market crash occurred in the United States, as a result of which Johnny's father went bankrupt and soon died. Young John Payne went to work to somehow support the family. He was admitted to a local hospital as a nurse.

The beginning of a musical career

A year later the future actor was able to enter Columbia University, the Faculty of Dramatic Art. The scholarship that John Paine began to receive was a good help in the family budget. In addition to studying at the university, the young man attended the Juilliard School of Vocal Art.

In 1934, John Paine received an invitation from the theater organization "Brothers Schubert." He had to take part in several tours around the surrounding states. The tour turned out to be successful, and John Payne gained experience of concert activity.

Hollywood

A year later the singer took part in the musical revue on Broadway. There he met with the famous Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn, who, without hesitation, offered the young contractor a contract for participation in film projects of a musical orientation. So John Payne was in Los Angeles.

The debut on the big screen took place in the movie "Dodsworth" directed by William Wyler. John played the son-in-law of a wealthy industrialist. Then the actor received the main roles in the films "Take Off Hats" and "Love on Toast."

In 1937, the studio "Paramount Pictures" offered Payne a role in the musical "School of Swing", where he made a paired with the famous musician Bob Hope. And the next year, John, in collaboration with the film studio "Warner Bros." played a major role in the musical comedy Busby Berkeley called "Moon Garden."

The main studio in John's career

Career Payne in the movie was really developed only after signing a long-term contract with the studio "Twentieth Century Fox." Business immediately went up the hill, the actor acquired the role of a successful, well-groomed movie hero, constantly surrounded by a crowd of admirers. Such image could not be better promoted popularity. Directors with might and main exploited the athletic appearance of John, the scripts were written in such a way that in many episodes he was to be removed half-naked. This tactic worked flawlessly, the number of fans of the actor steadily increased.

All of Payne's main roles included vocal numbers. Successful was the musical melodrama "Tin Peng Alley", filmed in 1940. John's partner in the film was Alice Fei.

"Serenade of the Sun Valley"

In 1941, another musical comedy "Weekend in Havana" with Payne in the lead role was released. At the same time, a remarkable film called "The Serenade of the Sun Valley" was shot, in which several works of Glenn Miller performed by his orchestra. John Paine played pianist and composer Ted Scott, whose songs formed the basis of the musical. The film was a huge success thanks to the participation of figure skater Sonya Henni.

John Paine: filmography

During his career, the actor starred in more than sixty scenes of a different genre. Below is a selective list of films with his participation:

• "Take off your hats" (1937), the role of Jimmy Maxwell.
• "School of Swing" (1938), a character of Martin Bates.
• "Stardust" (1940), the role of Ambroise Filmore.
• "Iceland" (1942), the role of Captain James Murphin.
• "Sisters Dolly" (1945), the character of Harry Fox.
• "The point of the razor" (1946), the role of Gray Matyurin.
• "Theft" (1947), the character of Rick Mason.
• "The charm of Saxon" (1948), the role of Eric Bach.
• "The Criminal Way" (1949), the role of Eddie Rice.
• "Tripoli" (1950), the character of Lieutenant O'Bannon.
• "The Eagle and the Hawk" (1950), the role of Captain Todd Croyden.
• "Counter winds" (1951), the character of Steve Singleton.
• "The Caribbean" (1952), the role of Mack Allister.
• "The Burning Forest" (1952), the role of Kelly Hansen.
• "Silver Loud" (1954), the character of Dan Ballard.
• "Hell's Island" (1955), the role of Mike Cormac.
• "Scarlet Shade" (1956), the character of Ben Grace.
• "Retreat Night" (1956), the role of Captain Sam McKenzie.
• "The Boss" (1956), the character of Matt Brady.
• "Hidden Fear" (1957), the role of Mike Brent.

The death of John Paine, actor, Hollywood star

The last time Payne acted in film in 1968 and after that retired to rest. The rest of his life the actor spent in his house on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the fashionable Malibu district.

On December 6, 1989, John Paine died of acute heart failure at the age of seventy-seven.