Johnny Wayne
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May 28, 1918
Johnny Wayne | |
|---|---|
 Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster in 1944 | |
| Born | Louis Weingarten May 28, 1918 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | July 18, 1990 (aged 72) Toronto |
| Resting place | Holy Blossom Memorial Park, Toronto |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Occupations | Comedian, comedy writer |
| Spouse | Beatrice (1946-1980, her death) |
| Children | Michael, Jamie, and Brian |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Branch | .svg){kind=small} Canadian Army |
| Service years | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Conflicts | World War II |
Johnny Wayne (born Louis Weingarten, also given as John Louis Weingarten;[1] May 28, 1918 – July 18, 1990) was a Canadian comedian and comedy writer best known for his work as part of the comedy duo Wayne and Shuster alongside Frank Shuster (1916–2002).
The son of a successful clothing manufacturer who spoke several languages, Charles Bryon Weingarten and mother Sarah,[2] and the eldest of seven children, Johnny Wayne was born in downtown Toronto, in the College/Spadina area,[1] and attended Harbord Collegiate Institute, where he met his future comedy partner, and later attended the University of Toronto, majoring in English literature.[1][3]
Starting with entertaining scouts, he and Shuster wrote some original scores and performed at the university's Hart House Follies.[1]
Professional life
Wayne and Shuster began working together in the 1930s and continued their successful collaboration on stage, radio, and television until Wayne's death.[4] Wayne played to Shuster's straight man.
During World War II Wayne enlisted with the Canadian Army with Shuster, assigned to The Army Show (1942–1945),[5] a troop entertainment unit like ENSA, including stage-performing soon after the Normandy landings of June 1944.[6]
Following the war, they produced material for the Department of Veteran Affairs, before rejoining CBC Radio in 1946, producing 39 half-hour episodes a year, until 1953.[1] Wayne with Shuster went to the new medium of television in the mid-1950s.[6]
The duo appeared in The Ed Sullivan Show in May 1958, and were considered as Canada's comedy ambassadors,[6] later going on to produce for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation until 1989.
He had musical talents and was a successful songwriter in the 1950s, including co-writing Bobby Gimby's 1958 hit "Jimbo".[7] In 1964 he recorded the song "Charlottetown", which he wrote and sang for the Canadian Confederation Centennial.[8]
In 1999 the pair were given a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[9][10]
Personal life and death
Wayne was a curling enthusiast and was a commentator alongside Alex Trebek and Doug Maxwell during the 1968 CBC Curling Championship.[11]
He married Beatrice Lokash in 1946. They were married until her death from cancer in 1980.[12]
They were parents to three children,[13][3] one of whom is notable historian Michael Wayne.[14]
Wayne died from brain cancer in 1990.[4][13] He is buried at Holy Blossom Cemetery in his home town of Toronto.[10]
