John Wayne

John Wayne

Born:May 26, 1907

Place of Birth:Winterset, Iowa, USA

Died:June 11, 1979

Known For:Acting

Biography

Marion Mitchell Morrison, known by his stage name John Wayne and affectionately called Duke, was a legendary American actor and filmmaker. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Wayne became one of the most iconic and beloved figures in Hollywood history.

Hailing from Winterset, Iowa, Wayne's journey to stardom began when he moved to Southern California during his youth. Despite facing setbacks like losing his football scholarship, Wayne's determination and talent propelled him into the world of cinema. Starting with small roles at Fox Film Corporation, he soon caught the eye of directors and audiences alike.

It was in 1939 that Wayne's career skyrocketed with his role in John Ford's classic film, "Stagecoach," solidifying his status as a leading man in Hollywood. Known for his rugged charm and strong screen presence, Wayne went on to star in a remarkable 142 films, leaving an indelible mark on the Western genre.

Throughout his career, Wayne portrayed a variety of iconic characters, from courageous cowboys to conflicted war veterans. His performances in films such as "Red River," "The Searchers," and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" showcased his versatility as an actor and his ability to embody the spirit of the American frontier.

Beyond his Western roles, Wayne also shone in films like "The Quiet Man," "Rio Bravo," and "The Longest Day," demonstrating his range and depth as a performer. His portrayal of an aging gunfighter in "The Shootist" marked a poignant end to his illustrious career, showcasing his talent until the very last moment.

John Wayne's impact on Hollywood and American cinema is immeasurable, with his legacy continuing to inspire generations of filmmakers and actors. His larger-than-life persona, coupled with his genuine talent and charisma, cemented his place as a true Hollywood legend.

Even in his final years, Wayne remained a revered figure in the industry, with his presence at the Academy Awards shortly before his passing serving as a testament to his enduring influence. The Duke may have left us, but his unforgettable performances and timeless films ensure that his spirit will always live on in the hearts of movie lovers around the world.

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John Wayne
John Wayne
John Wayne
John Wayne
John Wayne
John Wayne
John Wayne
John Wayne
John Wayne

Filmography

Acting

Rio Bravo

Rio Bravo

John Chance

1959

A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.
The Searchers

The Searchers

Ethan Edwards

1956

As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.
The Greatest Story Ever Told

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Centurion at crucifixion

1965

From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ's life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod; Christ's baptism by John the Baptist; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ's crucifixion and miraculous return.
True Grit

True Grit

Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn

1969

The murder of her father sends a teenage tomboy on a mission of 'justice', which involves avenging her father's death. She recruits a tough old marshal, 'Rooster' Cogburn because he has 'true grit', and a reputation of getting the job done.
The Longest Day

The Longest Day

Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort

1962

The retelling of June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of the Germans, US, British, Canadians, and the Free French. Marshall Erwin Rommel, touring the defenses being established as part of the Reich's Atlantic Wall, notes to his officers that when the Allied invasion comes they must be stopped on the beach. "For the Allies as well as the Germans, it will be the longest day"
Stagecoach

Stagecoach

The Ringo Kid

1939

A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo, and learn something about each other in the process.
The Alamo

The Alamo

Col. Davy Crockett

1960

The legendary true story of a small band of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas.
Red River

Red River

Thomas Dunson

1948

Following the Civil War, headstrong rancher Thomas Dunson decides to lead a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Missouri. During the exhausting journey, his persistence becomes tyrannical in the eyes of Matthew Garth, his adopted son and protégé.
Rio Lobo

Rio Lobo

Col. Cord McNally

1970

After the Civil War, a former Union colonel searches for the two traitors whose perfidy led to the loss of a close friend.
El Dorado

El Dorado

Cole Thornton

1966

Cole Thornton, a gunfighter for hire, joins forces with an old friend, Sheriff J.P. Harrah. Together with a fighter and a gambler, they help a rancher and his family fight a rival rancher that is trying to steal their water.
How the West Was Won

How the West Was Won

Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman

1962

The epic tale of the development of the American West from the 1830s through the Civil War to the end of the century, as seen through the eyes of one pioneer family.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Tom Doniphon

1962

Questions arise when Senator Stoddard attends the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon in a small Western town. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved Stoddard, then a lawyer, when he was roughed up by a crew of outlaws terrorizing the town, led by Liberty Valance. As the territory's safety hung in the balance, Doniphon and Stoddard, two of the only people standing up to him, proved to be very important, but different, foes to Valance.
The Quiet Man

The Quiet Man

Sean Thornton

1952

An American man returns to the village of his birth in Ireland, where he finds love and conflict.
The Comancheros

The Comancheros

Jake Cutter

1961

Texas Ranger Jake Cutter arrests gambler Paul Regret, but soon finds himself teamed with his prisoner in an undercover effort to defeat a band of renegade arms merchants and thieves known as Comancheros.
Fort Apache

Fort Apache

Capt. Kirby York

1948

Owen Thursday sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, he attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.
The Green Berets

The Green Berets

Colonel Mike Kirby

1968

Col. Mike Kirby picks two teams of crack Green Berets for two missions in South Vietnam. The first is to strengthen a camp that is trying to be taken by the enemy. The second is to kidnap a North Vietnamese General.
Donovan's Reef

Donovan's Reef

Michael "Guns" Donovan

1963

After her great aunt's death, a high-society woman arrives on a Hawaiian island in search of the heir - the father she has never met.
The Sons of Katie Elder

The Sons of Katie Elder

John Elder

1965

The four sons of Katie Elder reunite in their hometown of Clearwater, Texas for their mother's funeral, and discover that the family ranch is now in the hands of Morgan Hastings, the town's gunsmith.
The Shootist

The Shootist

J.B. Books

1976

Afflicted with a terminal illness John Bernard Books, the last of the legendary gunfighters, quietly returns to Carson City for medical attention from his old friend Dr. Hostetler. Aware that his days are numbered, the troubled man seeks solace and peace in a boarding house run by a widow and her son. However, it is not Books' fate to die in peace, as he becomes embroiled in one last valiant battle.
3 Godfathers

3 Godfathers

Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower

1948

Three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby. They swear to bring the infant to safety across the desert, even at the risk of their own lives.
The Fighting Seabees

The Fighting Seabees

Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan

1944

Construction workers in World War II in the Pacific are needed to build military sites, but the work is dangerous and they doubt the ability of the Navy to protect them. After a series of attacks by the Japanese, something new is tried, Construction Battalions (CBs=Seabees). The new CBs have to both build and be ready to fight.

Production

The Alamo

The Alamo

Producer

1960

The legendary true story of a small band of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas.
The Green Berets

The Green Berets

Director

1968

Col. Mike Kirby picks two teams of crack Green Berets for two missions in South Vietnam. The first is to strengthen a camp that is trying to be taken by the enemy. The second is to kidnap a North Vietnamese General.