Naunton Wayne


Naunton Wayne, was a Welsh character actor, born in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. He was educated at Clifton College. His name was changed by deed poll in 1933.

Stage actor

His first London stage roles were in Streamline at the Palace in 1934 and in 1066 and All That at the Strand in 1935. His first full role was as Norman Weldon in Wise Tomorrow at The Lyric in 1937. He played Mortimer Brewster in Arsenic and [Old Lace (play)|Arsenic and Old Lace] at the Strand for four years. He was a leading member of The Stage Golfing Society.
In 1949, he starred in Young Wives' Tale, at the Savoy Theatre.
From November 1956 he appeared in the long-running farce The Bride and the Bachelor at the Duchess Theatre.

Film actor

He became best known for his role as a supporting character, Caldicott, in the 1938 film version of The Lady Vanishes, a role he repeated in three further films, alongside Basil Radford as his equally cricket-obsessed friend, Charters. The two would go on to appear in other films together, often playing similar characters. Their other joint credits include Night Train to Munich, Crook's Tour, Millions Like Us, Dead of Night, Quartet, It's Not Cricket, and Passport to Pimlico.
Wayne also appeared alone in other films including the Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt and Obsession.

Personal life

Wayne married Gladys Dove, a concert pianist, in 1927 and they had two sons, Peter and John.

Death

Wayne died in Tolworth, in the county of Surrey on 17 November 1970, at the age of 69.

Filmography