John Payne was born in Roanoke, Virginia on may 23, 1912 to George Washington and Ida Hope. John came to New York in the early thirties to study voice and drama at Juilliard and Columbia. During school months, he supported himself with jobs in radio and toured with Shubert shows in the summertime.
 
After a few stage appearances and a few years as a professional singer, Hollywood beckoned the young trained singer. Payne's film debut was in a small role in the United Artists film, Dodsworth. From there, Payne bounced around to other studios, namely Warner Brothers and Paramount, until he landed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox.
 
In films like Tin Pan Alley, Hello, Frisco, Hello, and Weekend In Havana (all films which he made with frequent co-star Alice Faye), were the films he was really able to use his musical gifts, but he was also a wonderful dramatic actor and leading man, particularly in films like Miracle On 34th Street.

Payne's career was not limited to stage and screen. Payne was beginning to feel that Fox was not giving him the opportunities he wanted, so in 1948, John Payne set up his own production company, Window Productions. Payne's later film roles in the 50's, were in westerns, the type of role that he took with him to television in "Restless Gun."
 
Payne would go back on the stage in 1973, when he toured with former co-star Alice Faye in a revival of "Good News." John was also involved in real estate and other business ventures during this time.
 
Married three times, Payne's first wife was actress and singing star of MGM, Gloria de Haven, with whom Payne had two children. Anne Shirley was Payne's second wife and from that marriage came daughter Julie who also became an actress. John Payne died of heart failure on December 6, 1989 leaving his third wife, Sandy Cromwell Curtis and his three children.

Payne was the charming leading man who gripped our hearts with his charms. The perfect image of a handsome leading man who will never be forgotten.