Arguably, one of the most influential people in Western culture was John Wayne. Here is a look at his life and career.
Marion Robert Morrison was born on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, and was destined for stardom. He was the oldest of two children who eventually settled in Glendale, Calif.
While living in Glendale, the “Duke” nickname came about. He had an airedale dog by that name. Man’s best friend would follow him to school and then make a stop at the fire station. The firemen knew the dog’s name was Duke, so they started calling the pair ‘Big Duke’ and ‘Little Duke.’
From high school, Morrison earned a football scholarship at the University of Southern California. Fate would have it that after two years, an injury took him off the football field and ultimately ended his scholarship. Even while playing football in college, the star kept his foot in the movie industry by appearing as a film extra.
His name change came when he got his first starring role in The Big Trail in 1930. It has been reported that the director, Raoul Walsh, urged Morrison to change his name to John Wayne. When the movie Stagecoach was released in 1939, Duke was a star and never looked back.
An astounding 142 motion pictures later, John Wayne is an American Icon. To delve into the movie career and man, take a look at some of his famous movies.
The Shootist (1976) – This ended up being John Wayne’s final film. Interestingly, Wayne played an aging man who was once a legendary gunfighter but now battled a terminal illness, living out his final days. Trouble keeps finding him, but he goes out in a blaze of glory. This was a near-perfect farewell for Wayne.
El Dorado (1966) – An unlikely group bands together to stand up to a rebel rancher who is trying to steal water.
The Quiet Man (1952) – Taking place in Ireland, Wayne plays an American man who returns to his roots and the village he was born in. He finds love while in the process.
The Longest Day (1962) – The film focuses on the landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944. Setting the film apart is the fact that it explores the events from different perspectives.
Red River (1948) – Three men make a difficult journey from Texas to Missouri, herding cattle. During the adventure, it becomes apparent that the men do not agree on how to get things done, which leads to conflict.
Stagecoach (1939) – This is the film that brought Wayne to the forefront and made him a star. Wayne plays Ringo Kid riding on a stagecoach, making a journey through the American West. The storyline centers around character drama and the ways they resolve issues.
True Grit (1969) – A young girl wishes to avenge the murder of her father and hires a grouchy, old marshal (John Wayne) to help her get revenge and gather justice.
While Wayne was busy making movies and entertaining, he also battled personal problems with the same resolve that he played characters.
In 1964, Wayne had to battle lung cancer, and in order to defeat the disease, he had to have a lung and several ribs removed. He went on to make 20 more movies.
In 1979, Wayne succumbed to stomach cancer in Los Angeles, Calif. His legacy has continued throughout the years following. He was survived by his seven children. Shortly before his death, U.S. Congress approved a congressional gold medal for Wayne. Orange County Airport was renamed after him in 1980, and he was later featured on a postage stamp in 1990 and again in 2004. Wayne was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2007.