What can you tell me about John Payne, who starred as Fred Gailey in “Miracle on 34th Street”?
—Shirley Radunz, West Allis, Wisconsin
Born in Roanoke, Virginia, the actor (who also had a great singing voice) made 60 movies between 1936 and 1968 that included musicals, crime thrillers and Westerns. Among them were “Tin Pan Alley,” “Sun Valley Serenade,” “The Razor’s Edge,” “Sentimental Journey” and “99 River Street.” Payne also starred in the 1957-59 TV Western “The Restless Gun.” The father of three was married three times, and among his wives were actresses Anne Shirley and Gloria DeHaven. He died of congestive heart failure in 1989 at age 77.
