| John Wayne started his career as an actor in the 1920s beginning with silent films and was popularly given the nickname of “The Duke”. John Wayne took Best Actor honors at the Oscars for his role in ‘True Grit’. Notable actor Patrick Wayne was born to John and his third wife Pilar Palette. He had four children with his first wife Josephine Alicia Saenz and three with Pilar. His second wife was Esperanza Baur.
John Wayne was born as Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907. However he was re-named Marion Michael Morrison when his parents wanted to name his brother Robert. Wayne never went out without his Airedale Terrier dog, and that is what earned him his sobriquet of “The Duke”; the dog was named “Little Duke.” Wayne was a popular student and also made it to the football team of the University of Southern California. He was a member of Trojan Knights and was also a member the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Around this time, Wayne started working for studios nearby and befriended western star Tom Mi, who got him a summer job. Wayne established a long-term friendship with director John Ford. He made his first appearance as one of the featured football players in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Maker of Men’. His first starring role in ‘The Big Trait’ came his way in 1930 after working for a brief while at the William Fox Studios as a prop man. Wayne’s role in ‘The High and the Mighty’ is by far, his most appreciated performance.
John Wayne succumbed to stomach cancer on June 11, 1979. His last film, ‘The Shootist’ was released in 1976. |
