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Born Marion Michael Morrison, John Wayne moved with his family to California when he was young due to his father, Clyde's, lung condition. Wayne spent his youth ranching near the Mojave Desert, and often rode a horse to school. He took the nickname "The Duke" from the family's pet dog. When he was not accepted into the US Naval Academy, he attended the University of Southern California on a football scholarship.

Morrison got his first job in movies as a prop man, in exchange for football tickets. He was cast in his first leading role in 1929 in the movie 'The Big Trail'. After nearly ten years of appearing in small western and action films, during which time he took the name John Wayne, he gained prominence almost overnight when John Ford cast him in the lead role of 'Stagecoach'.

Soon Wayne was in demand for lead roles, and he continuously appeared in movies until the mid-1970s, usually appearing as a tough, idealized cowboy or military man. Among some of his more memorable films are 'Fort Apache', 'Rio Grande', 'Rio Bravo', and 'The Alamo'. He won an Academy Award in 1969 for best actor, for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn, in 'True Grit'.

His anti-Communist sentiments led Wayne to help found the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals in 1944. The organisation worked to exclude those on the political left from the industry.

In general Wayne's tough guy image was just that, an image. He insisted that it was mostly a gimmick that he decided to adopt early in his career to overcome a lack of acting training.

After his death from lung and stomach cancer in 1979, a Congressional medal was created in Wayne's honour.
John Wayne biography



John once made a cameo appearance on The Beverly Hillbillies.

He gets a mention in the Paula Cole song "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"
John Wayne biography



The Shootist (1976)
Rooster Cogburn (1975)
Brannigan (1975)
McQ (1974)
Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973)
The Train Robbers (1973)
Cancel My Reservation (1972)
The Cowboys (1972)
Big Jake (1971)
Rio Lobo (1970)
Chisum (1970)
Harry Jackson: A Man and his Art (1970)
The Undefeated (1969)
True Grit (1969)
Hellfighters (1968)
The Green Berets (1968)
The War Wagon (1967)
El Dorado (1966)
Cast a Giant Shadow (1966)
The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
In Harm's Way (1965)
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Circus World (1964)
Donovan's Reef (1963)
McLintock! (1963)
How the West Was Won (1962)
The Longest Day (1962)
Hatari! (1962)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
The Comancheros (1961)
10 del Texas, I (1961)
North to Alaska (1960)
The Alamo (1960)
The Horse Soldiers (1959)
Rio Bravo (1959)
The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958)
I Married a Woman (1958)
Legend of the Lost (1957)
Jet Pilot (1957)
The Wings of Eagles (1957)
The Searchers (1956)
The Conqueror (1956)
Blood Alley (1955)
The Sea Chase (1955)
The High and the Mighty (1954)
Hondo (1953)
Island in the Sky (1953)
Trouble Along the Way (1953)
Big Jim McLain (1952)
The Quiet Man (1952)
Miracle in Motion (1952)
Flying Leathernecks (1951)
Operation Pacific (1951)
Rio Grande (1950)
Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
The Fighting Kentuckian (1949)
Wake of the Red Witch (1948)
3 Godfathers (1948)
Red River (1948)
Fort Apache (1948)
Tycoon (1947)
Angel and the Badman (1947)
Without Reservations (1946)
Desert Command (1946)
Dakota (1945)
They Were Expendable (1945)
Back to Bataan (1945)
Flame of Barbary Coast (1945)
Tall in the Saddle (1944)
The Fighting Seabees (1944)
In Old Oklahoma (1943)
A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)
Reunion in France (1942)
Pittsburgh (1942)
Flying Tigers (1942)
In Old California (1942)
The Spoilers (1942)
Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
Lady for a Night (1942)
The Shepherd of the Hills (1941)
Lady from Louisiana (1941)
A Man Betrayed (1941)
Seven Sinners (1940)
The Long Voyage Home (1940)
Three Faces West (1940)
Dark Command (1940)
Allegheny Uprising (1939)
New Frontier (1939)
Wyoming Outlaw (1939)
Three Texas Steers (1939)
The Night Riders (1939)
Stagecoach (1939)
Red River Range (1938)
Santa Fe Stampede (1938)
Overland Stage Raiders (1938)
Pals of the Saddle (1938)
Born to the West (1937)
Adventure's End (1937)
Idol of the Crowds (1937)
I Cover the War (1937)
California Straight Ahead! (1937)
Conflict (1936)
Sea Spoilers (1936)
Winds of the Wasteland (1936)
The Lonely Trail (1936)
King of the Pecos (1936)
The Lawless Nineties (1936)
The Oregon Trail (1936)
Lawless Range (1935)
The New Frontier (1935)
Westward Ho (1935)
Paradise Canyon (1935)
The Dawn Rider (1935)
The Desert Trail (1935)
Rainbow Valley (1935)
Texas Terror (1935)
'Neath the Arizona Skies (1934)
The Lawless Frontier (1934)
The Trail Beyond (1934)
The Star Packer (1934)
Randy Rides Alone (1934)
The Man from Utah (1934)
Blue Steel (1934)
West of the Divide (1934)
The Lucky Texan (1934)
Sagebrush Trail (1933)
College Coach (1933)
Riders of Destiny (1933)
The Man From Monterey (1933)
Baby Face (1933)
The Life of Jimmy Dolan (1933)
His Private Secretary (1933)
Somewhere in Sonora (1933)
Central Airport (1933)
The Three Musketeers (1933)
The Telegraph Trail (1933)
Haunted Gold (1932)
The Big Stampede (1932)
That's My Boy (1932)
Ride Him, Cowboy (1932)
The Hollywood Handicap (1932)
The Hurricane Express (1932)
Lady and Gent (1932)
Two-Fisted Law (1932)
Texas Cyclone (1932)
The Shadow of the Eagle (1932)
Running Hollywood (1932)
The Voice of Hollywood No. 13 (1932)
Maker of Men (1931)
Range Feud (1931)
The Deceiver (1931)
Arizona (1931)
Three Girls Lost (1931)
Girls Demand Excitement (1931)
The Big Trail (1930)
Cheer Up and Smile (1930)
Rough Romance (1930)
Born Reckless (1930)
Men Without Women (1930)
The Forward Pass (1929)
Salute (1929)
Words and Music (1929)
Noah's Ark (1929)
The Black Watch (1929)
Speakeasy (1929)
Hangman's House (1928)
Four Sons (1928)
Mother Machree (1928)
The Drop Kick (1927)
Annie Laurie (1927)
The Great K & A Train Robbery (1926)
Bardelys the Magnificent (1926)
Brown of Harvard (1926)
John Wayne biography