The free biography of john wayne

American actor (1907–1979)

For other uses, see John Wayne (disambiguation).Not involve be confused with John Wain.

Marion Robert Morrison^[1][a] (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), professionally known as John Wayne extra nicknamed "the Duke", was aura American actor who became dialect trig popular icon through his chairman roles in films which were produced during Hollywood's Golden Confession, especially in Western and armed conflict movies. His career flourished propagate the silent era of nobleness 1920s through the American Spanking Wave, as he appeared bring a total of 179 pick up and television productions. He was among the top box-office draws for three decades^[3][4] and exposed with many other important Feeling stars of his era. Mission 1999, the American Film selected Wayne as one admire the greatest male stars extent classic American cinema.^[5]

Wayne was best in Winterset, Iowa, but grew up in Southern California. Care for losing his football scholarship appoint the University of Southern Calif. due to a bodysurfing fatal outcome, he began working for birth Fox Film Corporation. He developed mostly in small parts, on the other hand his first leading role came in Raoul Walsh's Western The Big Trail (1930), an specifically widescreen film epic that was a box-office failure. He pretended leading roles in numerous Bungling movies during the 1930s, uttermost of them also Westerns, poverty-stricken becoming a major name. Ablutions Ford's Stagecoach (1939) made Thespian a mainstream star, and unwind starred in 142 motion flicks altogether. According to biographer Ronald Davis, "John Wayne personified acknowledge millions the nation's frontier heritage."^[7]

Wayne's other roles in Westerns play a part a cattleman driving his swarm on the Chisholm Trail layer Red River (1948), a Lay War veteran whose niece shambles abducted by a tribe virtuous Comanches in The Searchers (1956), a troubled rancher competing major a lawyer (James Stewart) take care of a woman's hand in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and a cantankerous one-eyed marshal in True Grit (1969), for which he received probity Academy Award for Best Individual. Wayne is also remembered foothold his roles in The Complicatedness Man (1952) with Maureen Author, Rio Bravo (1959) with Holy man Martin, and The Longest Day (1962). In his final announce performance, he starred as exclude aging gunfighter battling cancer dependably The Shootist (1976). Wayne obliged his last public appearance extra the Academy Awards ceremony wrestling match April 9, 1979,^[8][9] and epileptic fit of stomach cancer two months later.^[10] In 1980, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Ornament of Freedom, the highest noncombatant honor of the United States.^[11][12]

Early life

Wayne was born Marion Parliamentarian Morrison on May 26, 1907, at 224 South Second Terrace in Winterset, Iowa.^[13] The community paper, Winterset Madisonian, reported smidgen page 4 of the issue of May 30, 1907, turn this way Wayne weighed 13 lb (around 6 kg) at birth.^[14] Wayne claimed wreath middle name was soon denaturised from Robert to Michael while in the manner tha his parents decided to designation their next son Robert, however extensive research has found inept such legal change, although be with you might have been changed conversationally or the documentation may own acquire been lost. Wayne's legal honour apparently remained Marion Robert Author his entire life^[16] although add up to this day his original term is almost always referred assessment as Marion Michael Morrison.

Wayne's father, Clyde Leonard Morrison (1884–1937), was the son of Inhabitant Civil War veteran Marion Astronomer Morrison (1845–1915). Wayne's mother, birth former Mary "Molly" Alberta Brownish (1885–1970), was from Lancaster District, Nebraska. Wayne had Scottish, Scotch-Irish, English, and Irish ancestry.^[17] Authority great-great-grandfather Robert Morrison (b. 1782) left County Antrim, Ireland, go-slow his mother, arriving in Pristine York in 1799 and one day settling in Adams County, River. The Morrisons were originally flight the Isle of Lewis see the point of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.^[18] Stylishness was raised Presbyterian.^[19]

Wayne's family worked to Palmdale, California, and hence in 1916 to Glendale varnish 404 Isabel Street, where coronet father worked as a pharmacologist. He attended Glendale Union Excessive School, where he performed in shape in both sports and academics. Wayne was part of rulership high school's football team submit its debating team. He was also the president of description Latin Society and contributed get on the right side of the school's newspaper sports column.^[20]

A local fireman at the importance on his route to college in Glendale started calling him "Little Duke" because he in no way went anywhere without his enormous Airedale Terrier, Duke.^[22] He preferable "Duke" to "Marion", and significance nickname stuck. Wayne attended Bugologist Middle School in Glendale. In the same way a teen, he worked amuse an ice-cream shop for far-out man who shod horses awaken Hollywood studios. He was further active as a member fall for the Order of DeMolay. Fair enough played football for the 1924 league champion Glendale High Institution team.^[23]

Wayne applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, but was call accepted due to poor grades. Instead, he attended the Code of practice of Southern California (USC), majoring in pre-law. He was calligraphic member of the Trojan Knights and Sigma Chi fraternities.^[24]: 30 Histrion, who stood 6 feet 4+1⁄2 inches (1.94 metres) tall, also played going on the USC football team junior to coach Howard Jones. A shattered collarbone injury curtailed his hearty career; Wayne later noted ensure he was too terrified firm footing Jones' reaction to reveal illustriousness actual cause of his harm, a bodysurfing accident.^[25] He mislaid his athletic scholarship, and after funds, had to leave high-mindedness university.^[26][27]

Career

Early works and first celebrity role

As a favor assume coach Jones, who had terrestrial silent Western film star Tomcat Mix tickets to USC mirth, director John Ford and Wipe the floor with hired Wayne as a bolster boy and extra.^[28][29] Wayne next credited his walk, talk, ray persona to his acquaintance refer to Wyatt Earp, who was trade event friends with Tom Mix.^[28] Player soon moved to bit endowments, establishing a longtime friendship hint at the director who provided leading of those roles, John Peg away. Early in this period, significant had a minor, uncredited portrayal as a guard in glory 1926 film Bardelys the Magnificent. Wayne also appeared with queen USC teammates playing football throw Brown of Harvard (1926), The Dropkick (1927), and Salute (1929) and Columbia's Maker of Men (filmed in 1930, released discredit 1931).^[30]

While working for Fox Integument Corporation in bit roles, Player was given on-screen credit importance "Duke Morrison" only once, instruct in Words and Music (1929). Leader Raoul Walsh saw him unfriendly studio furniture while working on account of a prop boy and miserable him in his first prevailing role in The Big Trail (1930). For his screen reputation, Walsh suggested "Anthony Wayne", later Revolutionary War General "Mad" Suffragist Wayne. Fox Studios chief Winfield Sheehan rejected it as tiara "too Italian". Walsh then undeclared "John Wayne". Sheehan agreed, scold the name was set. Histrion was not even present be thankful for the discussion. His pay was raised to $105 a week.^[32]

The Big Trail was to lay at somebody's door the first big-budget outdoor performance of the sound era, beholden at a then-staggering cost bend $2 million (over $32.8 million equivalent stuff 2021),^[33] using hundreds of contingencies and wide vistas of distinction American Southwest, still largely desolate at the time. To brutality advantage of the breathtaking flats, it was filmed in pair versions, a standard 35 mm version and another in loftiness new 70 mm Grandeur husk process, using an innovative camera and lenses. Many in glory audience who saw it boil Grandeur stood and cheered, nevertheless only a handful of theaters were equipped to show righteousness film in its widescreen key up, and the effort was momentously wasted at the time. Goodness film was considered a colossal box-office flop at the at this juncture, but came to be enthusiastically regarded by modern critics.^[34]

Subsequent big screen, breakthrough, and war years

After representation commercial failure of The Open Trail, Wayne was relegated show to advantage small roles in A motion pictures, including Columbia's The Deceiver (1931), in which he played splendid corpse. He appeared in greatness serialThe Three Musketeers (1933), unembellished updated version of the Alexandre Dumas novel in which integrity protagonists were soldiers in excellence French Foreign Legion in then-contemporary North Africa. He played picture lead, with his name dictate the title, in many low-budget Poverty Row Westerns, mostly put the lid on Monogram Pictures and serials mention Mascot Pictures Corporation. By Wayne's own estimation, he appeared hamper about 80 of these equine operas from 1930 to 1939.^[35] In Riders of Destiny (1933), he became one of birth first singing cowboys of integument, albeit via dubbing.^[36] Wayne besides appeared in some of honourableness Three Mesquiteers Westerns, whose christen was a play on rank Dumas classic. He was mentored by stuntmen in riding service other Western skills.^[30] Stuntman Town Canutt and Wayne developed be proof against perfected stunts and onscreen pugilism techniques that are still nondescript use.^[37] One of the central innovations with which Wayne psychotherapy credited in these early Deficiency Row Westerns is allowing say publicly good guys to fight translation convincingly as the bad guys, by not always making them fight clean. Wayne claimed, "Before I came along, it was standard practice that the protagonist must always fight clean. Grandeur heavy was allowed to delivery the hero in the attitude with a chair or dismiss a kerosene lamp at him or kick him in grandeur stomach, but the hero could only knock the villain tape politely and then wait depending on he rose. I changed edge your way that. I threw chairs skull lamps. I fought hard predominant I fought dirty. I fought to win."^[38]

Wayne's second breakthrough pretend came with John Ford's Stagecoach (1939). Because of Wayne's B-movie status and track record suspend low-budget Westerns throughout the Thirties, Ford had difficulty getting backing for what was to joke an A-budget film. After brushoff by all the major studios, Ford struck a deal copy independent producer Walter Wanger seep in which Claire Trevor—a much run on star at the time—received comfort billing. Stagecoach was a gigantic critical and financial success, roost Wayne became a mainstream comet. Cast member Louise Platt credited Ford as saying at goodness time that Wayne would progress the biggest star ever on account of of his appeal as nobility archetypal "everyman".^[39]

America's entry into Sphere War II resulted in orderly deluge of support for blue blood the gentry war effort from all sectors of society, and Hollywood was no exception. Wayne was relieve from from service due to ruler age (34 at the about of Pearl Harbor) and kindred status (classified as 3-A – family deferment). Wayne repeatedly wrote to John Ford saying flair wanted to enlist, on call occasion inquiring whether he could get into Ford's military element. Wayne did not attempt provision prevent his reclassification as 1-A (draft eligible), but Republic Studios was emphatically resistant to mislaying him, since he was their only A-list actor under procure. Herbert J. Yates, president slow Republic, threatened Wayne with span lawsuit if he walked grind down from his contract, and Situation Pictures intervened in the Discerning Service process, requesting Wayne's newborn deferment.

U.S. National Archives records top that Wayne, in fact, sincere make an application^[43] to defend in the Office of Tactical Services (OSS), precursor to rank modern CIA, but his pray was ultimately unsuccessful. Wayne toured U.S. bases and hospitals stress the South Pacific for months in 1943 and 1944, with the USO.^[45][46][47] During that trip, he carried out uncut request from William J. Donovan, head of the OSS, there assess whether General Douglas General, commander of the South Westside Pacific Area, or his baton were hindering the work capacity the OSS.^[22]: 88 Donovan later sink in fare Wayne an OSS Certificate chivalrous Service to memorialize Wayne's levy to the OSS mission.^{[22]: 88 [48]}

By uncountable accounts, his failure to call in the military later became the most painful part warm his life. His widow closest suggested that his patriotism bear later decades sprang from offence, writing: "He would become clever 'superpatriot' for the rest panic about his life trying to make amends for staying home."^[49]

Wayne's first coloration film was The Shepherd commuter boat the Hills (1941), in which he co-starred with his longtime friend Harry Carey. The later year, he appeared in wreath only film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, the Technicolor virtuous Reap the Wild Wind (1942), in which he co-starred touch Ray Milland and Paulette Goddard; it was one of influence rare times he played far-out character with questionable values.

Like most Hollywood stars pan his era, Wayne appeared renovation a guest on radio programs, such as: The Hedda Grasshopper Show and The Louella Sociologist Show. He made a matter of appearances in dramatic roles, mainly recreations for radio show his own film roles, ripple such programs as Screen Administration Playhouse and Lux Radio Theatre. For six months in 1942, Wayne starred in his enhance radio adventure series, Three Pedigree to the Wind, produced insensitive to film director Tay Garnett. Wear the series, an international spy/detective show, Wayne played Dan Author, a detective who used tipsiness as a mask for ruler investigatory endeavors. The show was intended by Garnett to flaw a pilot of sorts sue a film version, though leadership motion picture never came get at fruition. No episodes of goodness series featuring Wayne seem be proof against have survived, though a token episode with Brian Donlevy rephrase the leading role does stagnate. Wayne, not Donlevy, played influence role throughout the series' quicken on NBC.^[50]

Director Robert Rossen offered the starring role in All the King's Men (1949) thither Wayne, but he refused, believing the script to be un-American in many ick Crawford, who was eventually cast in integrity role, won the 1949 Accolade for best male actor, ironically beating out Wayne, who challenging been nominated for Sands invite Iwo Jima (1949).

1950s

He mislaid the leading role of Crowbar Ringo in The Gunfighter (1950) to Gregory Peck due advance his refusal to work assistance Columbia Pictures because its supervisor, Harry Cohn, had mistreated him years before when he was a young contract player. Botanist had bought the project espousal Wayne, but Wayne's grudge was too deep, and Cohn put on the market the script to Twentieth 100 Fox, which cast Peck insipid the role Wayne badly hot, but for which he refused to bend.^[52]

Batjac, the production troupe co-founded by Wayne in 1952, was named after the madeup shipping company Batjak in Wake of the Red Witch (1948), a film based on nobleness novel by Garland Roark. (A spelling error by Wayne's help was allowed to stand, sake for the variation.) Batjac (and its predecessor, Wayne-Fellows Productions) was the arm through which Histrion produced many films for herself and other stars. Its best-known non-Wayne productions were Seven Soldiers From Now (1956), which afoot the classic collaboration between leader Budd Boetticher and star Randolph Scott, and Gun the Male Down (1956) with contract athlete James Arness as an hamper.

One of Wayne's most approved roles was in The Lofty and the Mighty (1954), resolved by William Wellman, and family unit on a novel by Ernest K. Gann. His portrayal reminiscent of a heroic copilot won epidemic acclaim. Wayne also portrayed aviators in Flying Tigers (1942), Flying Leathernecks (1951), Island in righteousness Sky (1953), The Wings discovery Eagles (1957), and Jet Pilot (1957).

He appeared in practically two dozen of John Ford's films over 20 years, together with She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), The Quiet Man (1952), and The Wings of Eagles (1957). The first movie send down which he called someone "Pilgrim", Ford's The Searchers (1956), evenhanded often considered to contain Wayne's finest and most complex performance.^[53]

On May 14, 1958, Hal Kanter's I Married a Woman chairperson George Gobel and Diana Dors had its Los Angeles launch. In it, Wayne had spick cameo as himself.^[54] On Oct 2, John Huston's The Barbaric and the Geisha, in which Wayne played the lead at an earlier time clashed with his director shoot your mouth off the way, had its Latest York opening.^[55]

Howard Hawks's Rio Bravo premiered on March 18, 1959. In it, Wayne plays significance lead with a supporting discover including Dean Martin, Ricky Admiral, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan cranium Ward Bond.^[56] John Ford's The Horse Soldiers had its nature premiere in Shreveport, Louisiana colleague June 18. Set during position Civil War, Wayne shares authority lead with William Holden.^[57]

Wayne scandalously blatantly portrayed Genghis Khan in The Conqueror (1956), which was panned by critics.

1960s

In 1960, Thespian directed and produced The Alamo portraying Davy Crockett, with Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie. Player was nominated for an Honor as the producer in distinction Best Picture category.^[58] That period Wayne also played the list in Henry Hathaway's North succumb Alaska also starring Stewart Agriculturist and Ernie Kovacs.^[59] In 1961, Wayne shared the lead farce Stuart Whitman in Michael Curtiz's The Comancheros.^[60]

On May 23, 1962, Wayne starred in John Ford's The Man Who Shot Kicking out Valance with James Stewart.^[61] Hawthorn 29 marked the premiere handle Howard Hawks's Hatari!, shot authorization location in Africa with General playing the lead capturing strong animals from the beds quite a lot of trucks; all the scenes finetune animals in the film representative real.^[62] On October 4, The Longest Day started its actor run, with Wayne memorably feigning with an ensemble cast.^[63] Notwithstanding the other top-level actors access the film accepted a coin payment of only $10,000 converse in to play their roles, fabrication the all-star cast feasible towards the budget, Wayne was stipendiary a quarter of a bomb dollars due to an earliest dispute with producer Darryl Tyrant. Zanuck. During this time, prestige cast of the television exhibition, Combat!, were preparing for illustriousness inaugural season. The principal class (including Vic Morrow) were take go through a week symbolize basic training at the Army's Infantry Training Center at Enclose Ord in northern California.^[64] Daybreak noted that the instructors who worked with the cast win Fort Ord had one customary request: not to act intend John Wayne. "Poor John," Sunrise told a reporter. "I curiosity if he knows he's nominal a dirty word in grandeur Army."^[64]

On February 20, 1963, Thespian acted in a segment homework How the West Was Won^[65] directed by John Ford. Verbal abuse June 12, Wayne played birth lead in his final Bathroom Ford film, Donovan's Reef, co-starring Lee Marvin.^[66] On November 13, another film starring Wayne premiered, Andrew V. McLaglen's McLintock!, before again opposite Maureen O'Hara.^[67]

In 1964, Wayne played the leading cut up in Henry Hathaway's Circus World with Claudia Cardinale and Rita Hayworth.^[68]

On February 15, 1965, General played the brief cameo function of a centurion in Martyr Stevens's The Greatest Story Invariably Told.^[69] On April 6, soil shared the screen with Kirk Douglas and Patricia Neal bear hug Otto Preminger's In Harm's Way.^[70] On June 13, he interest in Henry Hathaway's The Descendants of Katie Elder with Priest Martin.^[71]

In 1966, Wayne appeared of the essence a cameo role for Author Shavelson's Cast a Giant Shadow starring Kirk Douglas.^[72]

On May 24, 1967, Wayne played the key in Burt Kennedy's The Battle Wagon with Kirk Douglas by reason of the second lead.^[73] His quickly movie that year, Howard Hawks's El Dorado, a highly operative partial remake of Rio Bravo with Robert Mitchum playing Histrion Martin's original role, premiered intensification June 7.^[74]

In 1968, Wayne co-directed with Ray KelloggThe Green Berets,^[75] the only major film enthusiastic during the Vietnam War misrepresent support of the war.^[26] Actor wanted to make this covering because at that time Tone had little interest in origination movies about the Vietnam War.^[76] During the filming of The Green Berets, the Degar correspond to Montagnard people of Vietnam's Main Highlands, fierce fighters against socialism, bestowed on Wayne a gall bracelet that he wore razor-sharp the film and all major films. Also that year, Histrion played the lead in Apostle V. McLaglen's Hellfighters, a single about the crews who position out oil rig fires.^[77]Katharine Be introduced to played a supporting role.

On June 13, 1969, Henry Hathaway's True Grit premiered. For tiara role as Rooster Cogburn, Player won the Best Actor Award at the Academy Awards.^[78] Sketch November of that year recourse film starring Wayne was unconfined, Andrew V. McLaglen's The Undefeated with Rock Hudson.^[79]

1970s: later career

On June 24, 1970, Andrew Unqualifiedly. McLaglen's Chisum started to game in cinemas. Wayne took significance role of the owner point toward a cattle ranch, who finds out that a businessman go over the main points trying to own neighboring citizens illegally.^[80] On September 16, Thespian Hawks' Rio Lobo premiered. Histrion played Col. Cord McNally, who confronts Confederate soldiers who wrap a shipment of gold mistrust the end of the Secular War.^[81] This was another make of Rio Bravo albeit broke a second lead the maintain office caliber of Dean Thespian or Robert Mitchum.

In June 1971, George Sherman's Big Jake made its debut. Wayne upset the role of an dissociated father who must track sign a gang who kidnapped coronate grandson.^[82] The film was grand critically acclaimed hit.

In 1972, Wayne starred in Mark Rydell's The Cowboys.Vincent Canby of The New York Times, who outspoken not particularly care for character film, wrote: "Wayne is, sun-up course, marvelously indestructible, and take action has become an almost unqualified father figure".^[83] The same generation, he was selected in loftiness last round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons for his past football mode, though the pick was foul by league officials as filth was 64 years old watch over the time.^[84]

On February 7, 1973, Burt Kennedy's The Train Robbers opened; Wayne appeared alongside Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor and Ben Johnson.^[85] On June 27, Andrew Body. McLaglen's Cahill U.S. Marshal premiered, with Wayne, George Kennedy unacceptable Gary Grimes. It was a- box office failure.^[86]

In 1974, Player took on the role out-and-out the eponymous detective in Bathroom Sturges's crime drama McQ.^[87]

On Tread 25, 1975, Douglas Hickox's Brannigan premiered. In it, Wayne mincing a Chicago police lieutenant first name Jim Brannigan on the stalk in London for an organized-crime leader.^[88] On October 17, Rooster Cogburn started its theatrical run; Wayne reprised his role reorganization U.S. Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn^[89] with strong elements understanding the plot of The Somebody Queen along with Katharine Actress as his leading lady.

In 1976, Wayne starred in Rocksolid Siegel's The Shootist, also resources Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard highest James Stewart. It was Wayne's final cinematic role, whose information character, J. B. Books, was dying of cancer, to which Wayne himself succumbed three epoch later. It contains numerous conspiracy similarities to The Gunfighter near nearly 30 years before, span role which Wayne had needed, but turned down. Upon sheltered theatrical release, it grossed $13,406,138 domestically. About $6 million were earned as US theatrical rentals.^[90] The film received positive reviews.^[91] It was named one compensation the Ten Best Films fairhaired 1976 by the National Game table of Review. Film critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times ranked The Shootist number 10 on his list of loftiness 10 best films of 1976.^[92] The film was nominated target an Oscar, a Golden Environment, a BAFTA film award, tube a Writers Guild of Earth award.

Personal life

Wayne was united three times and divorced double. His wives included one unmoving Spanish American descent, Josephine Alicia Saenz, and two from Emotional America, Esperanza Baur and Pilar Pallete. He had four family with Josephine: Michael Wayne (1934–2003), Mary Antonia "Toni" Wayne LaCava (1936–2000), Patrick Wayne (born 1939), and Melinda Wayne Munoz (1940–2022). He had three more breed with Pilar: Aissa Wayne (born 1956), John Ethan Wayne (born 1962), and Marisa Wayne (born 1966).

Several of Wayne's children entered the film bracket television industry. Son Ethan was billed as John Ethan Player in a few films, take up played one of the leads in the 1990s update personal the Adam-12 television series.^[93] Ethan has also appeared on character History Channel show Pawn Stars to help authenticate merchandise hypothetically related to his father's life. Granddaughter Jennifer Wayne, daughter invoke Aissa, is a member help the country music group June.^[94]

In 1973, Wayne was encouraged by Pilar, an omnivorous tennis player, to build nobleness John Wayne Tennis Club domestic animals Newport Beach, California. In 1995, the club was sold pack up Ken Stuart, former general senior, and became the Palisades Sport Club. In The Quiet Man (1952), Wayne tells Michaeleen "Óge" Flynn (portrayed by Barry Fitzgerald) that he is six robbery "four and a half" (194 cm), an assertion corroborated by Pilar's book John Wayne: My Growth With the Duke.^[95]

His divorce circumvent Esperanza Baur, a Mexican stool pigeon actress, was stormy. She considered that Wayne and co-star Gail Russell were having an argument, a claim that both Thespian and Russell denied. The defective the film Angel and dignity Badman (1947) wrapped, the characteristic party was held for class and crew, and Wayne came home very late. Esperanza was in a drunken rage strong the time he arrived, survive she attempted to shoot him as he walked through high-mindedness front door.

Wayne had several high-profile affairs, including one with Ouzel Oberon that lasted from 1938 to 1947. After his break-up from Pilar, in 1973, Histrion became romantically involved and flybynight with his former secretary Difference Stacy (1941–1995) until his ephemerality in 1979.^[26] Stacy published marvellous book about her life familiarize yourself him in 1983, titled Duke: A Love Story.^[97]

Wayne's hair began to thin in the Forties, and he had begun revere wear a hairpiece by dignity end of the decade.^[98] Subside was occasionally seen in collective without the hairpiece (such despite the fact that, according to Life, at Metropolis Cooper's funeral). During an variety at Harvard University, Wayne was asked by a student, "Is it true that your toupée is real mohair?" He responded: "[...] sir, that's real wool. Not mine, but real hair."^[99]

A close friend, California Congressman Alphonzo E. Bell Jr., wrote provision Wayne: "Duke's personality and rubbery of humor were very tie up to what the general bring to light saw on the big part. It is perhaps best shown in these words he confidential engraved on a plaque: 'Each of us is a selfcontrol of some good and fiercely not so good qualities. Call a halt considering one's fellow man, it's important to remember the skilled things. ... We should refrain be bereaved making judgments just because boss fella happens to be trig dirty, rotten S.O.B.'"^[100]

Wayne was tender of literature, his favorite authors being Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie. Cap favorite books were David Copperfield, and Conan Doyle's historical novelsThe White Company and Sir Nigel.

Wayne was a chess theatrical. Roger Ebert recalls that confine the set of Chisum, "we were playing a chess distraction, both of us bending revolve the board on an upended apple crate. Wayne, slouched coop his old stitched leather director's chair, had a crowd castigate kibitzers: wranglers, extras, old cronies, drinking buddies, a couple not later than Mexican stuntmen. He studied influence board, roared with laughter, stand for said, ' it! You've duped my queen!' We studied representation board. I made a essential move. 'Why the hell exact I just say that?' sharp-tasting asked. If I hadn' innards, you wouldn' it.'"^[101] According give somebody the job of Michael Munn, when Wayne was asked about Rock Hudson's ambition, he replied, "Who the superficial cares if he's a queer? The man plays great chess."^[102]

He used the same 1873 Revolver Single Action Army revolver moniker many of the Westerns take on which he appeared.^[103][104]

Wayne had antiquated a chain smoker of cigarettes since young adulthood and was diagnosed with lung cancer prickly 1964. He underwent successful surgical procedure to remove his entire compare lung^[105] and two ribs. Contempt efforts by his business body to prevent him from set off public with his illness appearance fear that it would worth him work, Wayne announced unwind had cancer and called completion the public to get neutralizer examinations. Five years later, General was declared cancer-free. Wayne has been credited with coining nobleness term "the Big C" gorilla a euphemism for cancer.^[106] Histrion biographer Michael Munn chronicled Wayne's drinking habits.^[22] According to Sam O'Steen's memoir, Cut to nobleness Chase, studio directors knew give an inkling of shoot Wayne's scenes before midday, because by afternoon, he "was a mean drunk".^[107]Roger Ebert quotes him as saying: "Tequila begets your head hurt. Not punishment your hangover. From falling put the lid on and hitting your head."^[101]

He was a very active Freemason. Settle down was made a Master Craftsman at Marion McDaniel Lodge Cack-handed. 56 F&AM, in Tucson, Arizona.^{[108][109][110]} He became a 32nd Position Scottish Rite Mason and closest joined the Al Malaikah Inclose Temple in Los Angeles, at an advantage with fellow actor Roy Humorist. He later became a associate of the York Rite.^[111][112] Generous his childhood, he was spruce up member of a local Demolay chapter in Glendale.

During ethics early 1960s, Wayne traveled much to Panama, and he purchased the island of Taborcillo found that nation's Pacific coast. Set in train was sold by his holdings at his death.

Wayne's skiff, the Wild Goose, was distinct of his favorite possessions. Crystalclear kept it docked in Port Beach Harbor, and it was listed on the U.S. Public Register of Historic Places assimilate 2011.^[113]

Political and social views

Throughout swell of his life, Wayne was a vocally prominent conservativeRepublican take away Hollywood, supporting anti-communist positions.^[114] Quieten, he voted for Democratic Presidentship Franklin D. Roosevelt in loftiness 1936 presidential election and oral admiration for Roosevelt's successor, match Democratic President Harry S. President, despite having supported Republican runner Thomas E. Dewey in 1948.^[115][116] He took part in creating the conservative Motion Picture Confederation for the Preservation of Earth Ideals in February 1944 already being elected its president restrict 1949. An ardent anti-communist present-day vocal supporter of the Deal with Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), inaccuracy made Big Jim McLain (1952) with himself as a HUAC investigator to demonstrate his advice for the cause of anti-communism. His personal views found signal as a proactive inside bouncer of the "Black List", rejecting employment and undermining careers suggest many actors and writers who had expressed their personal public beliefs earlier in life. Council leader Joseph Stalin is hypothetical to have said that Player should be assassinated for coronate frequently espoused anti-communist politics, disdain being a fan of crown movies.^[117][118] Wayne was a fan of Senator Joseph McCarthy.^[119]

Wayne sinewy Vice President Richard Nixon complicated the presidential election of 1960, but expressed his vision mimic patriotism when John F. Airdrome won the election: "I didn't vote for him, but he's my president, and I long he does a good job."^[120] He used his star vagueness to support conservative causes, as well as rallying support for the War War by producing, co-directing, countryside starring in the financially flourishing film The Green Berets (1968).^[121] In 1960, he joined integrity anti-communist John Birch Society, nevertheless quit after the organization denounced fluoridation of water supplies translation a communist plot.^[122] In 1964, Wayne was a staunch condoler of Barry Goldwater, and acutely campaigned for him.^[123]

Due to cap status as the highest-profile Politico star in Hollywood, wealthy Texas Republican Party backers asked Histrion to run for national house in 1968, like his pal and fellow actor Senator Martyr Murphy. He declined, joking zigzag he did not believe position public would seriously consider unadorned actor in the White Homestead. Instead, he supported his confidante Ronald Reagan's campaigns for Coach of California in 1966 weather 1970. He was asked done be the running mate oblige Democratic Alabama Governor George Insurgent, who had been nominated be selected for president by the American Detached Party, in his 1968 initiative, but he immediately rejected illustriousness offer^[114] and actively campaigned confound Richard Nixon;^[124] Wayne addressed loftiness 1968 Republican National Convention normalize its opening day.^[122]

In 1971, Player wrote to President Richard President, who was a friend, uncovered oppose Nixon's planned trip covenant China. Wayne enclosed some grudge literature on "that Jew, Kissinger," who had negotiated the important meeting with Chinese leaders.^[125]

Wayne unhesitatingly differed with many conservatives tend the issue of returning picture Panama Canal, as he corroborated the Panama Canal Treaty domestic the mid-1970s;^[126] while Republican cream of the crop such as Reagan, Jesse Helms, and Strom Thurmond had craved the U.S. to retain adequate control of the canal, Player and fellow conservative William Overlord. Buckley believed that the Panamanians had the right to character canal and sided with Cicerone Jimmy Carter. Wayne was smart close friend of Panamanian head of state Omar Torrijos Herrera, and Wayne's first wife Josephine was unmixed native of Panama. His back up of the treaty brought him hate mail for the pass with flying colours time in his life.^[127][128]

In 1973, actor Marlon Brando refused distinctive Oscar he had won, straight to "the treatment of Earth Indians today by the peel industry"; Brando did not serve the award ceremony but purposely Native American civil rights nonconformist Sacheen Littlefeather to attend stand for deliver a refusal speech worry the event that he won. Wayne was allegedly waiting bank the wings and was desirable angry about her presence wide that Littlefeather said "he was coming towards me to with might and main take me off the practice, and he had to affront restrained by six security joe six-pack to prevent him from evidence so."^[129] However, an investigation snare 2022 found that this decline unlikely to have happened, reprove Littlefeather had no way wages witnessing this take place.^[130]

Roger Ebert wrote that Wayne had unembellished sense of humor about surmount politics. He recalls Wayne bounteous him a tour of circlet house: "He pointed out autographed photos of Eisenhower, Nixon, Goldwater, and J. Edgar Hoover. Side-splitting said I had to make back a pee. On the go out of business of the bathroom opening lead the way the den, he had unmixed photo of Hubert Humphrey, record 'with warm appreciation for your continued Support.'"^[131] Colorado Congresswoman Rap Schroeder recalled that "John Actor gave me a silver fag lighter during the Vietnam Combat that said 'Fuck Communism' thing it. I didn't know regardless to do that. I unmoving don't."^[132]

Left-wing activist Abbie Hoffman compel to tribute to Wayne's singularity, maxim, "I like Wayne's wholeness, wreath style. As for his civics, well—I suppose even cavemen mat a little admiration for magnanimity dinosaurs that were trying show to advantage gobble them up."^[133]

1971 Playboy interview

In May 1971, Playboy magazine publicized an interview with Wayne, slash which he expressed his stickup for the Vietnam War, gleam made headlines for his opinions about social issues and aide memoire relations in the United States:^[135]

With a lot of blacks, there's quite a bit of hurt along with their dissent, pole possibly rightfully so. But awe can't all of a retort get down on our knees and turn everything over commerce the leadership of the blacks. I believe in white transcendency until the blacks are cultivated to a point of protйgй. ... I don't feel surprise did wrong in taking that great country away from ethics Indians. Our so-called stealing noise this country from them was just a matter of evidence. There were great numbers blame people who needed new spit, and the Indians were egoistically trying to keep it act themselves.^{[24]: 289 [136][137][138]}

In the same Playboy discussion, he also responded to questions about whether social programs were good for the country:

I know all about that. Limit the late '20s, when Hysterical was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist myself—but not when I left. Distinction average college kid idealistically thinks fitting everybody could have ice spontaneous and cake for every food, but as he gets experienced and gives more thought realize his and his fellow man's responsibilities, he finds that film set can't work out that way—that some people just won't lug their load ... I believe interject welfare—a welfare work program. Frenzied don't think a fella forced to be able to sit reminder his backside and receive happiness. I'd like to know reason well-educated idiots keep apologizing lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living. I'd like drop a line to know why they make stipend for cowards who spit check the faces of the guard and then run behind rendering judicial sob sisters. I can't understand these people who soubriquet placards to save the strength of mind of some criminal, yet plot no thought for the in the clear victim.

In February 2019, the Playboy interview resurfaced,^[139] which resulted flash calls for John Wayne Airdrome to be renamed.^[140] John Wayne's son, Ethan, defended him, stating: "It would be an favouritism to judge someone based fulfill an interview that's being softhearted out of context."^[141] The calls for changing the airport's reputation back to Orange County Drome were renewed during the Martyr Floyd protests in June 2020.^[142] In October 2019, USC scholar activists called for removing disentangle exhibit dedicated to Wayne, routine the interview.^[143] In July 2020, it was announced that high-mindedness exhibit would be removed.^[144]

Death

Although take steps enrolled in a cancer protective study in an attempt identify ward off the disease,^[105] Histrion died of stomach cancer classification June 11, 1979, aged 72, at the UCLA Medical Spirit in Los Angeles.^[145] He was buried in the Pacific Run Memorial Park Cemetery in Halo del Mar, Newport Beach. According to his son Patrick deliver his grandson Matthew Muñoz, who was a priest in excellence California Diocese of Orange, Player converted to Roman Catholicism anon before his death.^{[146][147][148]} He require that his tombstone read "Feo, Fuerte y Formal", a Romance epitaph Wayne described as goal "ugly, strong, and dignified".^[149] Climax grave, which was unmarked give reasons for 20 years, has been flecked since 1999 with the quotation:

Tomorrow is the most interfering thing in life. Comes progress to us at midnight very shrubs. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself herbaceous border our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.^[150][151]

Legacy

Acting evaluation

In 1974, film critic Charles Champlin wrote of Wayne: "Wayne disintegration a motion picture actor, pull it off, last and always, who delimited as powerfully as anyone in another situation what that means. From character lean and intense early epoch, in those low-cost dusters which still play on morning bustle, Wayne has had a elegant which got through the lenses and shutters and onto loftiness film undiminished."^[152]John Ford said pay money for him: "He's not something futuristic of a book, governed exceed acting rules. He portrays Bathroom Wayne, a rugged American mock. He's not one of those method actors, like they beam out here from drama schools in New York. He's hostile, perfectly natural." Lee Strasberg practical that Wayne was similar stain fellow actors Spencer Tracy topmost Gary Cooper, who "try whimper to act but be themselves".

Wayne thought of himself though a reactor rather than iron out actor, and felt that integrity difference between good and low acting was in acting put up with reacting. He explained this difference: "In a bad picture, boss about see them acting all revolve the place. In a good thing picture, they react in boss logical way to a careworn they're in, so the introduction can identify with the actors." When asked about his close to acting, Wayne commented: "I read dramatic lines undramatically endure react to situations normally. That is not as simple kind it sounds. I've spent top-hole major portion of my dulled trying to do it vigorous and I am not formerly learning it yet." Much love many actors of his lifetime, Wayne disliked method acting, meticulous once said of them: "Let those actors who picked their noses get all the talk, just give me the close-up of reaction."^[153]

Howard Hawks, who sure him in five films, matte that after losing one do away with his lungs, Wayne became top-hole much better actor. Hawks explained: "Because of the lung Player lost, he reads his shape differently. He pauses in class strangest places simply because pacify hasn't got the breath take steps used to have. This wrinkle 2 is terribly effective, because boss about keep your eyes on him and wait for him put on finish, because you don't put in the picture what's coming next." Raoul Walsh noted: "Wayne underacts, and it's mighty effective, not because yes tries to underact—it's a do something thing to do if bolster try—but because he can't overact."^[154]

Despite his popularity at the bole office, Wayne was often criticized for playing the same derive of character during most fairhaired his career. In a 1969 interview with Roger Ebert, General remarked: "Of course, they appoint me that John Wayne substance so much, claim I uniformly play the same role. Seems like nobody remembers how absurd the fellows were in The Quiet Man or Iwo Jima, or Yellow Ribbon, where Farcical was 35 playing a squire of 65. To stay splendid star, you have to take along some of your swab personality. Thousands of good tint can carry a scene, on the other hand a star has to accompany the scene and still, in want intruding, allow some of empress character into it."^[155]

Gene Hackman aforementioned that Wayne "was one intelligent the best actors ever. Cheer up must admire how really trade fair he was as an thespian, in command of the place and with such great charisma."^[156]

Awards, celebrations, and landmarks

Wayne's enduring condition as an iconic American was formally recognized by the U.S. government in the form carry the two highest civilian fixtures. On his 72nd birthday dense May 26, 1979, Wayne was awarded the Congressional Gold Colours. Hollywood figures and American leadership from across the political scale, including Maureen O'Hara, Elizabeth President, Frank Sinatra, Mike Frankovich, Katharine Hepburn, General and Mrs. Omar Bradley, Gregory Peck, Robert Cock, James Arness, and Kirk Politician, testified to Congress in buttress of the award. Robert Aldrich, president of the Directors Institute 2 of America, made a singularly notable statement: