Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), professionally known as John Wayne and nicknamed "the Duke", was an American … See more

Early works and first lead role
As a favor to coach Jones, who had given silent Western film star Tom Mix tickets to USC games, director See more

Throughout most of his life, Wayne was a vocally prominent conservative Republican in Hollywood, supporting anti-communist positions. However, he voted for Democratic See more

In 1974, film critic Charles Champlin wrote of Wayne: "Wayne is a motion picture actor, first, last and always, who defined as powerfully as anyone else what that means. From the … See more

Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, at 224 South Second Street in Winterset, Iowa. The local paper, Winterset … See more

Although he enrolled in a cancer vaccine study in an attempt to ward off the disease, Wayne died of stomach cancer on June 11, 1979, aged 72, at the UCLA Medical Center See more

Awards, celebrations, and landmarks
Wayne's enduring status as an iconic American was formally recognized by the U.S. government in … See more