Born:
May 26, 1907
in
Iowa
Best Known For:
Being a Hollywood icon.
Early-life:
Born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa on May 26, 1907. His family moved to California when he was young. John studied pre-law at the University of Southern California and played on the university's American football team until a broken collarbone injury put an end to his athletic career. He got a summer job in the prop department of a local film studio.
Career:
Wayne began doing bit parts in westerns and adventures and appeared in about 70 movies before his breakthrough role in John Ford's Stagecoach (1939). He went on to star in more than 20 John Ford pictures, including Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Rio Grande (1950), The Searchers (1956) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Other notable films included Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), The Alamo (1960), The Green Berets (1968), True Grit (1969) and The Shootist (1976). He died of stomach cancer on June 11, 1979 at the age of 72.
Quote:
"I am an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness, flag-waving patriot."
Trivia:
Known for his distinctive gravelly voice. He won an Academy Award for True Grit. He played the lead role in 142 films and was predominantly known for his roles in westerns.