John Wayne

American actor (1907-1979)

John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison, was a legendary American actor who rose to fame during Hollywood’s Golden Age, particularly in Westerns and war movies. Over the course of his illustrious career, he appeared in 179 film and television productions, cementing his status as one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema.

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About the John Wayne

Marion Robert Morrisonmade Wayne a mainstream star, and he starred in 142 motion pictures altogether. According to biographer Ronald Davis, “John Wayne personified for millions the nation’s frontier heritage.”

Wayne’s other roles in Westerns included a cattleman driving his herd on the Chisholm Trail in Red Riverfor a woman’s hand in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valancewith Maureen O’Hara, Rio Bravowith Dean Martin, and The Longest Day (1962). In his final screen performance, he starred as an aging gunfighter battling cancer in The Shootist (1976). Wayne made his last public appearance at the Academy Awards ceremony on April 9, 1979, and died of stomach cancer two months later. In 1980, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor of the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

John Wayne’s real name was Marion Robert Morrison, but he was professionally known as John Wayne and nicknamed ,the Duke,.

John Wayne was known for his starring roles in Westerns and war movies, which were produced during Hollywood’s Golden Age.

John Wayne appeared in a total of 179 film and television productions over the course of his career.

John Wayne lost his football scholarship to the University of Southern California due to a bodysurfing accident, after which he began working for the Fox Film Corporation.

John Wayne’s first leading role came in Raoul Walsh’s Western ,The Big Trail, (1930), which was an early widescreen film epic that was a box-office failure.

In 1969, John Wayne received the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film ,True Grit,. In 1980, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor of the United States.

John Wayne had leading roles in several iconic Westerns, including playing a cattleman driving his herd on the Chisholm Trail in ,Red River, (1948), a Civil War veteran whose niece is abducted by a tribe of Comanches in ,The Searchers, (1956), and a cantankerous one-eyed marshal in ,True Grit, (1969).