The Shootist
1976
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Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), professionally known as John Wayne and nicknamed "the Duke" or "Duke Wayne", was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood's Golden Age, especially in Western and war movies.
IMDb provides an extensive overview of the life and career of John Wayne, the legendary American actor, producer and director. Learn about his early years, his roles in over 250 movies, his political views, his health issues and his legacy.
- Actor, Producer, Art Department
- May 26, 1907
- 2 min
- June 11, 1979
- Who Was John Wayne?
- Early Life
- Western Star
- Action Hero
- Politics and Later Years
- Death and Legacy
Actor John Wayne received his first leading film role in The Big Trail (1930). Working with John Ford, he got his next big break in Stagecoach (1939). His career as an actor took another leap forward when he worked with director Howard Hawks in Red River (1948). Wayne won his first Academy Award in 1969 for his role in True Grit.
John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa. (Some sources also list him as Marion Michael Morrison and Marion Mitchell Morrison.) One of the most popular film actors of the 20th century, Wayne remains an American film icon to this day. The oldest of two children born to Clyde and Mary "Molly" Morrison, Wayne move...
Out of school, Wayne worked as an extra and a prop man in the film industry. He first met director John Ford while working as an extra on Mother Machree (1928). With The Big Trail(1930), Wayne received his first leading role, thanks to director Raoul Walsh. Walsh is often credited with helping him create his now legendary screen name, John Wayne. U...
Wayne started working behind the scenes as a producer in the late 1940s. The first film he produced was Angel and the Badman(1947). Over the years, he operated several different production companies, including John Wayne Productions, Wayne-Fellows Productions and Batjac Productions. Wayne's career as an actor took another leap forward when he worke...
A well-known conservative and anticommunist, Wayne merged his personal beliefs and his professional life in 1952's Big Jim McLain. He played an investigator working for the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee, which worked to root out communists in all aspects of public life. Off screen, Wayne played a leading role in the Motion Picture All...
Wayne portrayed an aging gunfighter dying of cancer in his final film, The Shootist(1976), with Jimmy Stewart and Lauren Bacall. His character, John Bernard Books, hoped to spend his final days peacefully, but got involved one last gunfight. In 1978, life imitated art with Wayne being diagnosed with stomach cancer. Wayne died on June 11, 1979, in L...
Learn about the life and career of John Wayne, the legendary actor who starred in over 250 movies, mostly westerns and war films. Find out his birth name, nickname, family, awards, trivia and quotes.
- May 26, 1907
- June 11, 1979
John Wayne filmography. American actor, director, and producer John Wayne (1907–1979) began working on films as an extra, prop man and stuntman, mainly for the Fox Film Corporation. He frequently worked in minor roles with director John Ford and when Raoul Walsh suggested him for the lead in The Big Trail (1930), an epic Western shot in an ...
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3 days ago · John Wayne, major American motion-picture actor who embodied the image of the strong, taciturn cowboy or soldier and who in many ways personified the idealized American values of his era. He is best known for the films he made with directors John Ford and Howard Hawks.
John Wayne was an American actor and filmmaker, known for his roles in Western films and his Academy Award-winning performance in True Grit (1969). He starred in 142 movies, including Rio Bravo, The Searchers, and The Shootist. He also appeared in many documentaries and TV shows about his life and career.
