
See more

What was the cause of John Wayne's death?
On June 11, 1979, John Wayne, an iconic American film actor famous for starring in countless westerns, dies at age 72 after battling cancer for more than a decade.
What was John Wayne's last words?
He responded with his last words, “Of course, I know who you are. You're my girl. I love you.”
Who inherited all of John Wayne's money?
Wayne's estate will be placed into trust accounts, one of which is to provide his first wife, Josephine, with monthly checks for $3,000. Upon her death, those funds will then be divided by the four children he had by her. Mr. Warren said Mr.
What was John Waynes net worth at his death?
He had seven children, four with his first wife and three with his second wife; several of his children also went on to enter the film and television industry. Wayne died of stomach cancer on June 11, 1979....John Wayne Net Worth.Net Worth:$50 MillionNationality:United States of America4 more rows
What is John Wayne's most famous line?
10 of the Best John Wayne Quotes"A man deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on him." "If everything isn't black-and-white, I say why the hell not?""I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. ... "A man ought to do what he thinks is best." —Hondo (1953) ... "A big mouth don't make a big man." —The Cowboys (1972)
Did John Wayne and Clint Eastwood ever meet?
0:3010:08The Truth About John Wayne And Clint Eastwood's RelationshipYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhile eastwood was on a break from rawhide. He was offered a star enroll in a western with an up-andMoreWhile eastwood was on a break from rawhide. He was offered a star enroll in a western with an up-and-coming italian director in spain. It was a fistful of dollars.
How much is Clint Eastwood worth right now?
Eastwood has pocketed a huge amount of cash throughout his career, and as of 2022, he has an estimated net worth of $375 million, or £299 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His acting career began with small-scale uncredited film roles and TV appearances.
Who is the richest actor in the world?
Jerry Seinfeld1. Jerry Seinfeld ($ 1 Billion): Jerry Seinfeld is an American actor, comedian, wri... 1. Jerry Seinfeld ($ 1 Billion): Jerry Seinfeld is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and investor.
Who owns John Wayne's yacht?
Hornblower CruisesA photo of legendary actor John Wayne, in the wheelhouse of the "Wild Goose," the 136-foot yacht once owned by Wayne. The Wild Goose, the yacht once owned by actor John Wayne, is nominated for a spot on the National Historic Register. The yacht is now owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach.
Who was John Wayne's best friend?
Ward BondWard Bond. From their days on the gridiron at USC to the sets of John Ford films, John Wayne and Ward Bond were destined to become the best of friends.
What was James Arness net worth at time of death?
James Arness net worth: James Arness was an American actor who had a net worth of $8 million. James Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1923 and passed away in June 2011. He was best known for starring as Matt Dillon in the television series Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1975.
How much was John Wayne paid for each movie?
By the early 60's, 161 of his films had grossed $350 million, and he had been paid as much as $666,000 to make a movie — although in his early days on screen, his salary ran to no more than two or three figures a week. It was rarely a simple matter to find a unanimous opinion on Mr.
What is the most famous movie line?
AFI's 100 YEARS...100 MOVIE QUOTES"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Gone with the Wind (1939) ... "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." The Godfather (1972) ... "You don't understand! I coulda had class. ... "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." The Wizard of Oz (1939) ... "Here's looking at you, kid."
Who was John Wayne's best friend?
Ward BondWard Bond. From their days on the gridiron at USC to the sets of John Ford films, John Wayne and Ward Bond were destined to become the best of friends.
What did Maureen O'Hara say to John Wayne?
Maureen O'Hara then concluded her testimony with this tearful plea: “I beg you to strike a medal for Duke, to order the President to strike it. And I feel that the medal should say just one thing: 'John Wayne, American. ' ” And so it was.
Did John Wayne have a lung removed?
Most known for his westerns, Wayne played a variety of roles in everything from war movies to romantic leads. He made more than 200 films. A heavy smoker, Wayne had most of his left lung removed in 1964 and died of complications from stomach cancer 15 years later. He was 72.
How did John Wayne die?
On June 11, 1979, John Wayne, an iconic American film actor famous for starring in countless westerns, dies at age 72 after battling cancer for more than a decade. The actor was born Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, and moved as a child to Glendale, California.
What was John Wayne's most famous movie?
John Ford directed Wayne in some of his best-known films, including Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Rio Grande (1950), The Quiet Man (1952) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Off-screen, Wayne came to be known for his conservative political views.
What was Wayne's last movie?
In 1969, he won an Oscar for his role as a drunken, one-eyed federal marshal named Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. Wayne’s last film was The Shootist (1976), in which he played a legendary gunslinger dying of cancer. The role had particular meaning, as the actor was fighting the disease in real life.
How many movies did John Wayne appear in?
During four decades of acting, Wayne, with his trademark drawl and good looks, appeared in over 250 films. He was married three times and had seven children.
What was John Wayne's political view?
Off-screen, Wayne came to be known for his conservative political views. He produced, directed and starred in The Alamo (1960) and The Green Berets (1968), both of which reflected his patriotic, conservative leanings.
What was Wayne's first acting job?
His first acting jobs were bit parts in which he was credited as Duke Morrison, a childhood nickname derived from the name of his beloved pet dog. Wayne’s first starring role came in 1930 with The Big Trail, a film directed by Raoul Walsh.
Where did John Wayne go to high school?
A football star at Glendale High School, he attended the University of Southern California on a scholarship but dropped out after two years. After finding work as a movie studio laborer, Wayne befriended director John Ford, then a rising talent.
Where was John Wayne born?
Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa , but grew up in Southern California. He lost a football scholarship to the University of Southern California as a result of a bodysurfing accident, and began working for the Fox Film Corporation. He appeared mostly in small parts, but his first leading role came in Raoul Walsh 's Western The Big Trail (1930), an early widescreen film epic which was a box-office failure. He played leading roles in numerous B movies during the 1930s, most of them also Westerns, without becoming a major name. It was John Ford 's Stagecoach (1939) that made Wayne a mainstream star, and he starred in 142 motion pictures altogether. According to one biographer, "John Wayne personified for millions the nation's frontier heritage."
Who is John Wayne?
Signature. Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor and filmmaker who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood’s Golden Age, especially in Western and war movies. His career flourished from the silent era ...
What was the name of the movie that Wayne made?
Batjac, the production company co-founded by Wayne in 1952, was named after the fictional shipping company Batjak in Wake of the Red Witch (1948), a film based on the novel by Garland Roark. (A spelling error by Wayne's secretary was allowed to stand, accounting for the variation.) Batjac (and its predecessor, Wayne-Fellows Productions) was the arm through which Wayne produced many films for himself and other stars. Its best-known non-Wayne productions were Seven Men From Now (1956), which started the classic collaboration between director Budd Boetticher and star Randolph Scott, and Gun the Man Down (1956) with contract player James Arness as an outlaw.
Why was John Wayne exempt from the military?
Wayne was exempted from service due to his age (34 at the time of Pearl Harbor) and family status (classified as 3-A – family deferment). Wayne repeatedly wrote to John Ford saying he wanted to enlist, on one occasion inquiring whether he could get into Ford's military unit. Wayne did not attempt to prevent his reclassification as 1-A (draft eligible), but Republic Studios was emphatically resistant to losing him since he was their only A-list actor under contract. Herbert J. Yates, President of Republic, threatened Wayne with a lawsuit if he walked away from his contract, and Republic Pictures intervened in the Selective Service process, requesting Wayne's further deferment.
Why is Wayne called Little Duke?
A local fireman at the station on his route to school in Glendale started calling him "Little Duke" because he never went anywhere without his huge Airedale Terrier, Duke. He preferred "Duke" to "Marion", and the nickname stuck. Wayne attended Wilson Middle School in Glendale. As a teen, he worked in an ice cream shop for a man who shod horses for Hollywood studios. He was also active as a member of the Order of DeMolay. He played football for the 1924 league champion Glendale High School team.
How many movies did John Wayne appear in?
Between 1926 and 1977, Wayne appeared in over 170 films, and became one of America's biggest box office stars. Only Clark Gable sold more tickets than Wayne, although the ticket prices paid during the span of their respective careers are not really commensurate. While both men began performing on screen at the same time, the height of Gable's celebrity preceded Wayne's by approximately fifteen years.
Why is May 26th John Wayne Day?
This resolution was struck down by a vote of 35 to 20, due to Wayne's views on race and his support of controversial organizations such as the John Birch Society and the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Who Was John Wayne?
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.
Where was John Wayne born?
Early Life. 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.
What did John Wayne do in high school?
In high school, Wayne excelled in his classes and in many different activities, including student government and football. He also participated in numerous student theatrical productions. Winning a football scholarship to the University of Southern California, Wayne started college in the fall of 1925.
What was Wayne's illness?
Some other notable films from this period include The Longest Day (1962) and How the West Was Won (1962). Continuing to work steadily, Wayne refused to even let illness slow him down. He successfully battled lung cancer in 1964. To defeat the disease, Wayne had to have a lung and several ribs removed.
What movie did John Wayne play in?
Taking on a war drama, Wayne gave a strong performance in Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), which garnered him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He also appeared in more two westerns by Ford now considered classics: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Rio Grande (1950) with Maureen O'Hara.
How many children did John Wayne have?
Wayne died on June 11, 1979, in Los Angeles, California. He was survived by his seven children from two of his three marriages. During his marriage to Josephine Saenz from 1933 to 1945, the couple had four children, two daughters Antonia and Melinda and two sons Michael and Patrick.
What was Wayne's role in The Long Voyage Home?
Reunited with Ford and Mitchell, Wayne stepped away from his usual Western roles to become a Swedish seaman in The Long Voyage Home (1940). The film was adapted from a play by Eugene O'Neill and follows the crew of a steamer ship as they move a shipment of explosives. Along with many positive reviews, the movie earned several Academy Award nominations.
What was John Wayne known for?
Eventually, Wayne became known almost as much for his conservative political views as for his acting. He produced, directed, and starred in two films designed to make his points, playing Davy Crockett in The Alamo in 1960 and, at the height of the Vietnam War, The Green Berets. He was awarded a Best Actor Oscar in 1969 for True Grit.
What cancer did John Wayne have?
Fifteen years after beating lung cancer, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Two days before his death, he converted to Catholicism. He died June 11, 1979.
Did John Wayne smoke?
Wayne liked a drink and he liked a cigarette. The chain smoker was diagnosed with lung cancer as early as 1964, forcing the removal of one lung and four ribs. In 1976's The Shootist, he plays a man dying of cancer. It was his last film.
Did John Wayne play Genghis Khan?
Wayne (we'll stick with Wayne from now on, partly because he did) went on to play mostly quiet, strong, manly men in his long and remarkably successful career. There were a few exceptions — his take on Genghis Khan in The Conqueror is almost unwatchable, and although people trot out The Quiet Man every St. Patrick's Day, his Irish accent comes and goes (though he's playing a boxer, so maybe — brain trauma?). He specialized in all manner of action hero, often in westerns, but also military figures, although a college football injury disqualified him from actual military service.
How old was John Wayne when he died?
John Wayne is one of the U.S.'s most famous Hollywood stars, having headlined classics like All the King's Men and True Grit before his death on June 11, 1979, at age 72. A box office draw throughout his career, Wayne had possibly the longest and most successful career of any actor in film, having starred in 120 features, ...
When was John Wayne's last appearance?
The actor's last public appearance was at the 1979 Academy Awards ceremony, during which he answered a rousing ovation with, "That’s just about the only medicine a fellow would ever need.". Wayne never paid much mind to award ceremonies, telling Roger Ebert ahead of his Best Actor win for playing Rooster Cogburn in True Grit at ...
How much real estate did John Wayne own?
The Academy Award-winning actor whose hits also include The Big Trail, Stagecoach and The Searchers, had hs assets listed at the time of his death as $1 million in real estate, which he owned in Arizona, Newport Harbor and on the Puget Sound in Washington, and around $6 million in personal assets/investments.
How much did John Wayne make in 1979?
At the time, he was earning about $100,000 a year in passive income from investments and royalties, which accounts about about $350,000 in today's dollars. His death in 1979 came after 15 years battling cancer on and off.
Who won the Oscar for Midnight Cowboy?
Chips, and Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight for their roles in Midnight Cowboy.
How did John Wayne die?
In 1964, pulmonary cancer cost him four ribs and his entire left lung. He died of stomach cancer on June 11, 1979, aged 72. Wayne dismissed the “Curse of The Conqueror .”. He believed his cancer was a consequence of smoking.
What are some interesting facts about John Wayne?
10 Awesome Things You Should Know About John Wayne. Although he never fired a bullet in combat or rescued a damsel in distress, John Wayne is remembered as a hero, the kind of guy your grandfather looked up to. Wayne had a vast filmography , appearing in nearly 250 movies. Some of his best roles were taken on when he was in his late sixties.
How many movies did John Wayne make?
Wayne had a vast filmography, appearing in nearly 250 movies. Some of his best roles were taken on when he was in his late sixties. Below are 10 facts about an American icon, from his brush with the KGB to rumors about his colon.
How tall was John Wayne?
Photo credit: John Wayne Enterprises. John Wayne stood at 193 centimeters (6’4″). That’s tall today, and for a man born over 100 years ago, it was massive. Young Marion easily scored a football scholarship to the University of Southern California, playing as an offensive tackle.
Why did John Wayne test negative?
He tested negative in 2007, likely due to tampering with blood samples.
What was Wayne's favorite pastime?
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures. One of Wayne’s favorite pastimes was playing chess. He was a skilled player but was not beyond using duplicitous means if he could get away with it. While shooting 1970’s Chisum, he became friendly with Christopher Mitchum, the son of Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum.
What was Wayne's most inappropriately cast role?
Wayne’s greatest film successes came as a Wild West lawman. His most inappropriately cast role, on the other hand, was surely the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan in the 1956 film The Conqueror.
What happened to Wayne when he regained consciousness?
When Wayne finally regained consciousness he was horrified to discover how close he had come to meet his maker. He was ever so grateful to the courageous young man who threw caution out the window and raced to his aid.
How many horses were racing in front of John Wayne?
Can you imagine that? At the time, Wayne was arguably one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and there were fifty horses racing directly toward him. Everyone on-set that day thought that John Wayne was going to be trampled to death. However, at the last minute, a quick-thinking wrangler on the crew selflessly jumped in front of Wayne. He managed to get the horses to run around him.
Where was Wayne's house when she wore a yellow ribbon?
Ten years after making She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, while on location filming The Barbarian and The Geisha, Wayne’s house in California caught fire and burned to the ground. Sadly, destroyed in the fire was his treasured collection of memorabilia from many of the movies that he had been in for the past three decades. Interestingly enough, the only thing that was able to be saved from the fire was the hat that he wore in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

Society and culture
- On this day in 1979, John Wayne, an iconic American film actor famous for starring in countless westerns, dies at age 72 after battling cancer for more than a decade.
Early years
- The actor was born Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, and moved as a child to Glendale, California. A football star at Glendale High School, he attended the University of Southern California on a scholarship but dropped out after two years. After finding work as a movie studio laborer, Wayne befriended director John Ford, then a rising talent. His first acting j…
Film
- Waynes first starring role came in 1930 with The Big Trail, a film directed by his college buddy Raoul Walsh. It was during this time that Marion Morrison became John Wayne, when director Walsh didnt think Marion was a good name for an actor playing a tough western hero. Despite the lead actors new name, however, the movie flopped. Throughout the 1930s, Wayne made dozen…
Acting career
- In 1939, Wayne finally had his breakthrough when his old friend John Ford cast him as Ringo Kid in the Oscar-winning Stagecoach. Wayne went on to play larger-than-life heroes in dozens of movies and came to symbolize a type of rugged, strong, straight-shooting American man. John Ford directed Wayne in some of his best-known films, including Fort Apache (1948), She Wore …
Personal life
- During four decades of acting, Wayne, with his trademark drawl and good looks, appeared in over 250 films. He was married three times and had seven children.
Overview
Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Golden Age, especially in Western and war movies. His career flourished from the silent era of the 1920s through the American New Wave, as he appeared in a total of …
Early life
Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, at 224 South Second Street in Winterset, Iowa. The local paper, Winterset Madisonian, reported on page 4 of the edition of May 30, 1907, that Wayne weighed 13 lb (around 6 kg) at birth. Wayne claimed his middle name was soon changed from Robert to Michael when his parents decided to name their next son Robert, bu…
Career
As a favor to coach Jones, who had given silent Western film star Tom Mix tickets to USC games, director John Ford and Mix hired Wayne as a prop boy and extra. Wayne later credited his walk, talk, and persona to his acquaintance with Wyatt Earp, who was good friends with Tom Mix. Wayne soon moved to bit parts, establishing a longtime friendship with the director who provided most o…
Death
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, at the UCLA Medical Center. He was buried in the Pacific View Memorial Park Cemetery in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach. According to his son Patrick and his grandson Matthew Muñoz, who was a priest in the California Diocese of Orange, Wayne converted to Roman Catholicism shortly before his death. He requested that his tombstone read "…
Political views
Throughout most of his life, Wayne was a vocally prominent conservative Republican in Hollywood, supporting anti-communist positions. However, he voted for Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1936 presidential election and expressed admiration for Roosevelt's successor, fellow Democratic President Harry S. Truman. He took part in creating the conservative Motion Pi…
Personal life
Wayne was married three times and divorced twice. His three wives included one of Spanish American descent, Josephine Alicia Saenz, and two from Latin America, Esperanza Baur and Pilar Pallete. He had four children with Josephine: Michael Wayne (November 23, 1934 – April 2, 2003), Mary Antonia "Toni" Wayne LaCava (February 25, 1936 – December 6, 2000), Patrick Wayne (born …
Acting style
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 lean and intense early days, in those low-cost dusters which still play on morning television, Wayne has had a presence which got through the lenses and shutters and onto the film undiminished." John Ford said of him…
Legacy
Wayne's enduring status as an iconic American was formally recognized by the U.S. government in the form of the two highest civilian decorations. On his 72nd birthday on May 26, 1979, Wayne was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Hollywood figures and American leaders from across the political spectrum, including Maureen O'Hara, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Mike Frankovich, Kat…