John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison and nicknamed "Duke," was a highly popular American actor. He rose to fame during Hollywood's Golden Age, primarily starring in Westerns and war movies. Wayne's career spanned from the silent era through the New Wave, with a total of 179 film and television appearances. He remained a top box-office draw for three decades, acting alongside many prominent stars. The American Film Institute recognized his significant contributions by naming him among the greatest male stars of classic American cinema.
On May 26, 1907, Marion Robert Morrison, who would later be known as John Wayne, was born. He would become a famous American actor.
On May 30, 1907, the Winterset Madisonian reported on page 4 of their edition that Marion Robert Morrison, who would later be known as John Wayne, weighed 13 lb at birth.
In 1915, Marion Mitchell Morrison, John Wayne's paternal grandfather who served in the Union army during the American Civil War, passed away.
In 1916, John Wayne's family moved to Glendale, California, where his father worked as a pharmacist.
In 1924, John Wayne played football for the league champion Glendale High School team.
In 1926, John Wayne had a minor, uncredited role in the film "Bardelys the Magnificent" and also appeared in "Brown of Harvard" playing football with his USC teammates.
Starting in 1926, John Wayne began his film career, appearing in over 170 films by 1977.
In 1927, John Wayne appeared with his USC teammates playing football in "The Dropkick".
In 1929, John Wayne appeared with his USC teammates playing football in "Salute" and also appeared in "Words and Music", where he was credited as "Duke Morrison".
From 1930 to 1939, John Wayne appeared in approximately 80 low-budget Poverty Row Westerns.
In 1930, John Wayne got his first leading role in Raoul Walsh's Western "The Big Trail", an early widescreen film epic that turned out to be a box-office failure.
In 1930, John Wayne was cast in his first starring role in "The Big Trail". In 1930, John Wayne filmed "Maker of Men", released in 1931.
In 1931, John Wayne's film "Maker of Men", which was filmed in 1930, was released.
In 1931, after the commercial failure of "The Big Trail", Wayne played a small role in "The Deceiver", where he played a corpse.
In 1933, Wayne played the lead role in "The Three Musketeers" and became one of the first singing cowboys of film in "Riders of Destiny", albeit via dubbing.
In 1934, Michael Wayne, the first child of John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz, was born.
In 1936, John Wayne voted for Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the presidential election.
In 1936, John Wayne was listed in the Motion Picture Herald Top Ten Money-Making Western Stars poll.
In 1936, Mary Antonia "Toni" Wayne LaCava, the daughter of John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz, was born.
In 1937, Clyde Leonard Morrison, John Wayne's father, passed away.
In 1938, John Wayne began a high-profile affair with Merle Oberon, which lasted until 1947.
From 1930 to 1939, John Wayne appeared in approximately 80 low-budget Poverty Row Westerns.
In 1939, John Ford's "Stagecoach" was released and made Wayne a mainstream star, marking a significant turning point in his career.
In 1939, John Ford's "Stagecoach" was released, becoming a critical and financial success and marking Wayne's breakthrough into mainstream stardom.
In 1939, John Wayne was listed in the Motion Picture Herald Top Ten Money-Making Western Stars poll, and also appeared in the similar Box Office poll.
In 1939, Patrick Wayne, the son of John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz, was born.
In 1940, John Wayne appeared in the Box Office poll.
In 1940, Melinda Wayne Munoz, the daughter of John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz, was born.
In 1941, John Wayne's first color film, "The Shepherd of the Hills", was released.
In 1941, Pat Stacy, who later became John Wayne's partner after his separation from Pilar, was born.
For six months in 1942, John Wayne starred in his own radio adventure series, "Three Sheets to the Wind", as Dan O'Brien, a detective.
In 1942, John Wayne portrayed an aviator in the film 'Flying Tigers'.
In 1942, John Wayne starred in "Reap the Wild Wind", his only film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, portraying a character with questionable values.
In 1943, Joan Didion recalls the first time she saw John Wayne in a movie, remembering the walk, the voice, and a line from the picture War of the Wildcats.
In 1943, John Wayne toured U.S. bases and hospitals in the South Pacific with the United Service Organizations (USO).
In February 1944, John Wayne took part in creating the conservative Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals.
In 1944, John Wayne toured U.S. bases and hospitals in the South Pacific with the United Service Organizations (USO).
In 1947, after the wrap party for 'Angel and the Badman', John Wayne's then-wife, Esperanza Baur, attempted to shoot him in a drunken rage due to suspicions of an affair with Gail Russell.
John Wayne's affair with Merle Oberon, which started in 1938, ended in 1947.
In 1948, John Wayne played a cattleman driving his herd on the Chisholm Trail in the film "Red River".
In 1948, John Wayne supported Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey in the presidential election, despite admiring Democratic President Harry S. Truman.
In 1948, the film 'Wake of the Red Witch' was released, based on the novel by Garland Roark. The fictional shipping company 'Batjak' in the film inspired the name of John Wayne's production company, Batjac.
In 1949, John Wayne appeared in John Ford's film 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon'.
In 1949, John Wayne appeared in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films.
In 1949, John Wayne refused the starring role in "All the King's Men" and was nominated for an Oscar for "Sands of Iwo Jima".
In 1949, John Wayne was elected as the president of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals.
In 1949, four years after World War II, Sands of Iwo Jima was released, contributing to John Wayne's image as a movie war hero.
In 1950, John Wayne lost the leading role of Jimmy Ringo in "The Gunfighter" due to his refusal to work for Columbia Pictures, because its chief had mistreated him.
In 1950, John Wayne took first place in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films.
In 1951, John Wayne portrayed an aviator in the film 'Flying Leathernecks'.
In 1951, John Wayne took first place in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films.
In 1952, John Wayne appeared in John Ford's film 'The Quiet Man'.
In 1952, John Wayne co-founded Batjac, a production company named after the fictional shipping company Batjak in 'Wake of the Red Witch', which produced many films for himself and other stars.
In 1952, John Wayne starred in "The Quiet Man" alongside Maureen O'Hara.
In 1953, John Wayne portrayed an aviator in the film 'Island in the Sky'.
In 1954, John Wayne starred in 'The High and the Mighty', directed by William Wellman, where he played a heroic copilot, earning him widespread acclaim.
In 1954, John Wayne took first place in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films.
In 1956, Aissa Wayne, daughter of John Wayne and Pilar Pallete, was born.
In 1956, Batjac produced 'Seven Men From Now,' marking the start of the Boetticher-Scott collaboration, and 'Gun the Man Down' with James Arness.
In 1956, John Wayne portrayed Genghis Khan in 'The Conqueror', a performance that was poorly received by critics.
In 1956, John Wayne starred in "The Searchers" as a Civil War veteran whose niece is abducted by a tribe of Comanches.
From 1949 to 1957, John Wayne consistently appeared in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films.
In 1957, John Wayne confronted Kirk Douglas about his decision to play the role of Vincent van Gogh in the film Lust for Life, criticizing the portrayal of weak characters.
In 1957, John Wayne portrayed aviators in both 'The Wings of Eagles' and 'Jet Pilot'.
On May 14, 1958, Hal Kanter's 'I Married a Woman', starring George Gobel and Diana Dors, premiered in Los Angeles, featuring a cameo appearance by John Wayne as himself.
From 1958 to 1974, John Wayne consistently appeared in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films.
On March 18, 1959, Howard Hawks's 'Rio Bravo' premiered, starring John Wayne in the lead role alongside Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan and Ward Bond.
In 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, during a visit to the United States, requested to meet John Wayne, alongside a visit to Disneyland.
In 1960, John Wayne directed and produced 'The Alamo', making his directorial debut, and portrayed Davy Crockett. He also starred in Henry Hathaway's 'North to Alaska' that year.
In 1960, John Wayne supported Vice President Richard Nixon in the presidential election. He also joined the anti-communist John Birch Society, but later quit.
In 1961, John Wayne shared the lead role with Stuart Whitman in Michael Curtiz's film, 'The Comancheros'.
In 1962, John Ethan Wayne, son of John Wayne and Pilar Pallete, was born.
In 1962, John Wayne starred in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" as a troubled rancher competing with a lawyer for a woman's hand and also starred in "The Longest Day".
In 1962, John Wayne starred in John Ford's 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' with James Stewart. Also, on May 29, the movie 'Hatari!' premiered where Wayne played the lead capturing wild animals from the beds of trucks.
In 1963, John Wayne acted in a segment of 'How the West Was Won', directed by Ford. On June 12, he starred in his final Ford film, 'Donovan's Reef', and on November 13, 'McLintock!' premiered, again opposite Maureen O'Hara.
In 1964, John Wayne starred in Henry Hathaway's 'Circus World' with Claudia Cardinale and Rita Hayworth.
In 1964, John Wayne was a staunch supporter of Barry Goldwater, and actively campaigned for him.
In 1964, John Wayne, a chain smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery to remove his entire left lung and two ribs.
In 1965, John Wayne had a cameo in 'The Greatest Story Ever Told'. On April 6, he starred in 'In Harm's Way', and on June 13, he acted in 'The Sons of Katie Elder'.
In 1966, John Wayne made a cameo appearance in Melville Shavelson's 'Cast a Giant Shadow' starring Douglas.
In 1966, John Wayne supported his friend Ronald Reagan's campaigns for Governor of California.
In 1966, Marisa Wayne, daughter of John Wayne and Pilar Pallete, was born.
In 1967, John Wayne starred in Burt Kennedy's 'The War Wagon' and Howard Hawks' 'El Dorado', which premiered on June 7. 'El Dorado' was a remake of 'Rio Bravo'.
In 1968, John Wayne declined offers to run for national office, and he also rejected being George Wallace's running mate, instead supporting Nixon and addressing the Republican National Convention.
On June 13, 1969, Henry Hathaway's 'True Grit' premiered. For his role as Rooster Cogburn in this film, John Wayne later won the Best Actor Oscar.
In 1969, John Wayne received the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a cantankerous one-eyed marshal in "True Grit".
In 1969, during an interview with Roger Ebert, John Wayne addressed criticisms about playing the same type of character, defending his range of roles and the need to incorporate personal character into his star persona.
On June 24, 1970, Andrew V. McLaglen's 'Chisum' was released, starring John Wayne as a cattle ranch owner.
In 1970, John Wayne supported his friend Ronald Reagan's campaigns for Governor of California.
In 1970, Mary "Molly" Alberta Brown, John Wayne's mother, passed away.
In June 1971, George Sherman's 'Big Jake' debuted, starring John Wayne as an estranged father tracking down his kidnapped grandson's gang. The film was a critically acclaimed hit.
In 1971, John Wayne took first place in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films.
In 1971, John Wayne wrote to President Nixon to oppose Nixon's planned trip to China.
In 1972, John Wayne starred in Mark Rydell's 'The Cowboys', where he was noted for his "marvelously indestructible" presence. The same year, he was drafted in the NFL by the Atlanta Falcons, a pick disallowed due to his age.
On February 7, 1973, Burt Kennedy's 'The Train Robbers' opened, starring John Wayne alongside Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor and Ben Johnson.
After separating from Pilar in 1973, John Wayne began a romantic relationship with his former secretary, Pat Stacy, and lived with her until his death in 1979.
In 1973, John Wayne, encouraged by Pilar, built the John Wayne Tennis Club in Newport Beach, California.
In 1973, The Harvard Lampoon invited John Wayne to receive The Brass Balls Award, created in his "honor" after calling him "the biggest fraud in history".
In 1973, during Marlon Brando's Oscar refusal speech, John Wayne was allegedly angry about Sacheen Littlefeather's presence.
On January 15, 1974, John Wayne received The Brass Balls Award from The Harvard Lampoon, despite protests, celebrating his "outstanding machismo".
From 1958 to 1974, John Wayne consistently appeared in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films.
In 1974, John Wayne starred as the detective in John Sturges's crime drama 'McQ'.
In 1974, film critic Charles Champlin wrote about John Wayne, describing him as a motion picture actor who defined what that means.
On March 25, 1975, Douglas Hickox's 'Brannigan' premiered, featuring John Wayne as a Chicago police lieutenant in London.
In 1975, Japanese Emperor Hirohito, during a visit to the United States, requested to meet John Wayne, seeing him as a symbolic representation of his country's former enemy.
In 1976, John Wayne starred in "The Shootist" as an aging gunfighter suffering from cancer, which was his final screen performance.
In 1976, John Wayne starred in Don Siegel's 'The Shootist', his final cinematic role, where he played a character dying of cancer, mirroring his own health struggles.
Between 1926 and 1977, John Wayne appeared in over 170 films.
In 1977, John Wayne attended President Jimmy Carter's inaugural ball as a member of the 'loyal opposition'.
On April 9, 1979, John Wayne made his last public appearance at the Academy Awards ceremony.
On May 26, 1979, on his 72nd birthday, John Wayne was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, with testimonies from various Hollywood figures and American leaders.
On June 11, 1979, John Wayne passed away. He was a popular icon through his starring roles in films during Hollywood's Golden Age.
In 1979, John Wayne passed away, and at the time of his death he was in a relationship with Pat Stacy.
On June 9, 1980, John Wayne was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter.
In 1980, John Wayne was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States.
In 1982, a video clip aired posthumously on People for the American Way's I Love Liberty TV special, where Wayne stated he disagreed with Jane Fonda but supported her right to free speech.
In 1985, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation was founded in honor of John Wayne, with the mission to "bring courage, strength, and grit to the fight against cancer".
Starting in 1994, 15 years after his death, John Wayne was in the top 10 of the Harris Poll of Most Popular Film Actors for 19 consecutive years.
In 1995, Pat Stacy, John Wayne's partner after his separation from Pilar, passed away.
In 1995, the John Wayne Tennis Club was sold to Ken Stuart and became the Palisades Tennis Club.
In 1998, John Wayne was awarded the Naval Heritage Award by the US Navy Memorial Foundation for his support of the Navy and military during his film career.
In 1999, John Wayne's grave, unmarked for 20 years, was marked with the quotation "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life..." which was something he was known for saying.
In 1999, The American Film Institute recognized John Wayne as one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema.
In 1999, the American Film Institute named John Wayne 13th among the Greatest Male Screen Legends of classic Hollywood cinema.
In 2000, Mary Antonia "Toni" Wayne LaCava, the daughter of John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz, passed away.
In 2003, Michael Wayne, the eldest child of John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz, passed away.
According to Quigley Polling, as of 2005, Wayne was named the top money maker.
Since 2005, Duke University has attempted to stop John Wayne Enterprises from trademarking the name "Duke" for its products.
In 2006, the "Louie and the Duke Classics" events were inaugurated to benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society.
On May 26, 2007, several celebrations took place for the centennial of John Wayne's birth, including events at his birthplace and the breaking of ground for a new museum and learning center.
In 2011, John Wayne's yacht, the Wild Goose, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
In 2012 an exhibit was created at the University of Southern California dedicated to John Wayne's role in the history of cinema.
On September 30, 2014, a federal judge dismissed a suit by John Wayne Enterprises against Duke University over the use of the "Duke" brand, citing the wrong jurisdiction.
In a 2015 filmed interview, Mylène Demongeot spoke of Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, and John Wayne as unbelievable stars, declaring "there aren't any like them anymore."
In 2016, a resolution to mark May 26 as "John Wayne Day" in California was struck down due to Wayne's views on race and his support of controversial organizations.
In February 2019, John Wayne's Playboy interview resurfaced, leading to calls for renaming John Wayne Airport.
In October 2019, student activists at the University of Southern California called for the removal of an exhibit dedicated to John Wayne, citing the Playboy interview as cause.
During the George Floyd protests in June 2020, calls to rename John Wayne Airport back to Orange County Airport were renewed.
In July 2020, it was announced that the materials of the 2012-created exhibit dedicated to John Wayne would be moved to the USC Cinematic Arts Library for research.
In 2021, the cost of making "The Big Trail" was equivalent to over $32.8 million.
In 2022, Melinda Wayne Munoz, the daughter of John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz, passed away.
In 2022, an investigation found that it was unlikely that John Wayne was going to forcibly remove Sacheen Littlefeather from the stage during Marlon Brando's 1973 Oscar refusal.
As of 2025, the name of John Wayne Airport remains unchanged despite previous calls for it to be renamed.
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