John Wayne became one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood after being in dozens of successful movies. Years after his death, he’s still remembered and his legacy lives on. Wayne was interested in the entertainment industry since a very young age but his road to stardom was not at all easy.

Wayne’s career had its up and downs but he was always able to bounce back from his low points and bring his name to the forefront. His constant roles as the hero were the ones that made him a legend and people love him for them, even to this day.

Wayne Was The Heroic Lead In Over 100 Movies

The odds are that, whether you have realized it or not, you have seen at least one of John Wayne’s movies. After all, he starred in over 150 films. Furthermore, he managed to be the lead actor in around 140 of these films. That’s a very impressive number for any actor!

Therefore, it wasn’t only his talent what made him an icon. He also got frequent exposure as the lead of so many projects. His most common genre was Westerns where he played everything from cowboys to marshals and even war veterans in front of the camera.

 

His Marriages Were Not As Successful As His Career

John Wayne was married three times. One of his marriages turned out to be even dangerous for his life! His second wife was Mexican actress Esperanza Baur. Their relationship was a very passionate one but it led to torment and conflict soon enough, making things quite difficult.

Wayne was known for being a ladies’ man and Esperanza was extremely jealous. On one occasion, she drank a lot of alcohol while Wayne was at a wrapping party. When he got home, Esperanza tried to shoot him, accusing him of being unfaithful. They ended up going their separate ways.

 

He Raised Awareness of Cancer, The Disease That Took His Life

John Wayne was diagnosed with cancer on two different occasions. He was known for his heavy smoking. After being diagnosed with lung cancer, he underwent a drastic therapeutic option. One lung and some of his ribs were removed. Despite the hit it could have on his career, he told the public.

He was one of the first artists to admit to having the disease. It was a big concern that he could lose job offers over it. However, he recovered. Years later, he was diagnosed with a malignancy in his stomach. Despite his willful fight, the disease ended up taking his life.

His Dreams Of Being In The Navy Were Crushed

Entering the US Naval Academy was no easy feat, as a young John Wayne had discovered. He was rejected by the academy and, despite dreaming of being part of the US Navy for years, John had to look for other options. Thankfully, he had been playing football since high school.

Thanks to his athleticism, he got a spot on the team of the University of Southern California. Now being able to pursue higher studies, he decided to enroll for pre-law. However, he had a bad day while bodysurfing and injured his clavicle, which took him away from the game and pre-law.

He Was A Heavy Babe Named Marion

John Wayne was born Marion Robertson and he made the news since his birth. After all, it was not every day that a baby was born weighing 13 pounds. This news made it into the local newspaper. Despite being born in Iowa, he was raised primarily in California.

His father, Clyde, was a pharmacist. After a worrying illness, Clyde’s doctor recommended that he move to an area with warmer weather. Clyde decided to take his family to California and start a new life there. He worked as a pharmacist but also tried to lead a successful ranch.

He Was Knicknamed Little Duke After A Beloved Pet

Marion liked to go everywhere with his pet dog named Duke. Given his propensity to take it everywhere with him, a local fireman that often saw them together started calling him Little Duke. Surprisingly, Marion preferred to be called Duke than Marion and the nickname was born.

Big Duke and Little Duke made an excellent pair and animal care activists would have loved this. Big Duke would do the route with Wayne to school. There, Wayne excelled, not only at academics but also in sports. Furthermore, he also appeared in school plays.

Wayne Was The Local Football Hero

In high school, Wayne became one of the stars of the football team. The team was a league champion and Wayne was able to excel. His talent and discipline were the ones that helped him get a scholarship for his higher studies, despite later losing it.

However, from his football involvement at USC came his career in entertainment. He got his first job in the industry, thanks to his former football coach. He was acquainted with director John Ford. Ford offered Wayne a job as an extra as a favor to Howard Jones, the coach.

The Searchers Showcased John’s Impressive Talent

By 1956, John was considered a great and very popular actor. However, the film The Searchers was one of the films that consolidated him as a great Hollywood talent. Many consider that his deep performance in this movie was the best of his entire career.

Wayne was directed by John Ford on this film. They would often form a great team for many projects. Here, Wayne portrayed a veteran looking for his missing niece in a midst of suspense and anxiety. The movie was even been selected by the National Film Registry for preservation.

The Surprising Naming Of John Wayne

Can you believe that Wayne wasn’t even in the room when his screen name was chosen for him? When he was selected for his first lead role, it was decided that the name Marion Morrison would not do. Duke Morrison didn’t have a nice ring to it either.

Walsh, who was going to be the director of the film proposed the name, Anthony Wayne, after a General of the Revolutionary War. For the name, they decided to go with John, which had a greater symmetry with the last name. The new name came with a new paycheck.

His Greatest Frustration Was Not Going To War

During World War II, Wayne wanted to enlist fervently. And as you might remember, he had dreamt of becoming part of the Navy. Now, he just wanted to help his country in any way possible. However, he was deferred for a wide number of reasons.

He was already 34 years old and married. Furthermore, the studios made sure that his enlistment would cost him dearly, with threats to take him to court. They did everything possible to avoid losing their A-list actor. Wayne toured different bases and provided entertainment and motivation for the troops.

He Received The Highest Award An Actor Could Ever Get

Wayne was nominated on three different occasions for the Academy Awards. He received two nominations for  Best Lead Actor and a nomination for his work as a producer. He won only one of these nominations, being awarded the Best Leading Actor prize for True Grit.

The film was an adaptation of Charles Portis books. In the movie, Wayne played the part of a tough marshal who had to bring to justice some of the more ruthless criminals. The public liked the film and it had the nod of critics as well.

Early On, Wayne Was Barely Noticed

Wayne started his career in the industry as an extra and moving props on the set. No one would have expected at that point that he would become one of the most successful actors of his generation. He used his experience in playing football for his job as an extra.

This allowed him to be able to play in a bigger number of projects. This was always welcome as his earnings were not that great. During that time, he was credited as Duke Morrison for one of his appearances but this name disappeared when he got his first lead.

His Debut As A Lead Actor Was Not Successful

Raoul Walsh, the director that gave him his worldwide famous name, was also the first director to give him a chance as a lead. The film, The Big Trail, was a pioneer in utilizing new filming technology. A huge budget was spent on the movie and today, it’s still greatly valued by critics.

However, not every movie theater was able to display the film due to the format in which it was recorded. This meant that commercially, the film was a failure. This was a huge setback for Wayne who had to go back to being an extra.

Developing New Abilities For His Chosen Genre

Wayne made a name for himself in Westerns and action movies. Therefore, it seemed logical that he wanted to get better at performing stunts necessary for the roles. One of his mentors in this was Yakima Canutt, a cowboy stuntman. They developed new moves together.

Some of these moves are still being used. Furthermore, Wayne copied some of his gestures from Canutt. Many had said that Wayne’s way of slowly talking when on screen, was one of these traits. Wayne went back to being the lead in full movies but these ones were B-movies.

Persistence Helped Wayne In Becoming A Star

Despite starring in B-movies for years and being comfortable in these roles, Wayne wanted more. Director John Ford believed Wayne could be the next big thing in Hollywood. Therefore, he strove to give him a chance and made him the lead in the movie, Stagecoach.

No studio wanted to take the project, as they didn’t believe in Wayne. Ford finally found an independent studio that accepted the challenge. The movie was a huge financial success and the public loved Wayne. A star had been born after years in the industry.

Reinventing Himself Within The Same Genre

Wayne was able to pursue roles with more dramatic content in the following years. John Ford and Howard Hawks were the two directors that played an important role in this part of his career. Wayne’s performances were considered more intense and deep in films like Red River.

He also did a trilogy with Ford, known as the Cavalry Trilogy. His performance earned him great critical acclaim. These roles, while still within the Western genre, allowed for a more dramatic portrayal, with depression and emotional issues displayed. It was a challenge for Wayne and he rose to meet it.

Wayne Explored His Talents Behind Camera

John decided to explore his creativity and talent for directing and producing. One of these films was Alamo. The movie became a classic and it earned him an Academy Award nomination for his production role. He also directed a pro-Vietnam War film titled The Green Berets.

The latter one played very well with his political beliefs, which were greatly anti-communism. These were the only two films in which Wayne participated behind the camera. He continued to have different roles throughout the years, always as an actor or a guest, but not as a director or producer.

Pain Wasn’t Enough To Get Him To Stop Performing

During the filming of the movie The Undefeated, Wayne suffered not one but two accidents! He fell while riding a horse and he fractured a couple of ribs. Despite this, he continued shooting. Unfortunately, something similar took place again, resulting in a dislocated shoulder and a torn ligament.

However, this did not stop Wayne and he continued to act despite the pain. The takes were shot from a limited angle, to avoid his injuries from being visible to the public. It wasn’t that Wayne didn’t care about his well-being, but the studio had a budget.

The Role He Regretted The Most

Wayne declared later on that he should’ve never shot the film The Conqueror. In it, he played the part of the future Genghis Khan and he would cringe when the subject of the film was brought on years later. He said that he had definitely learned from that mistake.

In a weird turn of events, there were rumors that the crew might have been affected by radiation carried by the wind. Apparently, US nuclear tests were taking place nearby. Ninety-one members of the crew developed some sort of cancer. However, an association between the events was never proven.

Finding Love For The First Time

John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz met before he made it big into the entertainment industry. Their love story was not an easy one as her parents opposed the relationship due to his religion. In time, and as Wayne’s status increased, they allowed the marriage.

They got married in 1933 at Loretta Young’s garden. It was a beautiful ceremony and they had four kids together in subsequent years. However, his busy schedule and their differences regarding raising the children brewed trouble. After 12 years, they went their separate ways. Josephine never remarried.

Third Time Wasn’t The Charm

His second wife was Esperanza Baur, but the marriage didn’t work out either. After ending things with her, Wayne fell in love again, this time, with Peruvian actress Pilar Pallete. They got married on the same day Wayne’s divorce from Esperanza was finalized. They had three kids together and Pilar quit her career to take care of the family.

After 19 years of marriage, they decided to separate but never made it legally official. Wayne went on to live with his secretary, Pat Stacy and they were together until his death, only six years later. Pilar got remarried on two separate occasions after Wayne’s passing.

First A Patriot, Then A Conservative

Wayne was a Republican with conservative views and was not afraid to show it. However, he took Nixon’s loss against Kennedy gracefully. In fact, he showed how real his patriotism was by saying that despite not voting for Kennedy, he was his president and hoped he did well.

Wayne was extremely anti-communist and was an enforcer of the so-called Black List. This initiative forbade actors and writers that had been tied with communism to participate in the industry. A lawyer couldn’t do much about it. Wayne also used his influence to promote and star in anti-communist films.

A Love Song To His Beloved Country

John Wayne was definitely a true patriot and his love for his country was evident. He released an album in 1973 titled America: Why I Love Her. It had been interpreted as one more example of how much it hurt him not to be able to participate in the war.

After the horrific events that took place on September 11, 2001, his album was released again. It was done to help raise people’s morale and create a positive impact on their mental health. The album, now released on CD, was a success again.

Excited Fans Faced Wayne In Chess Games

Wayne, who had excelled academically in school and with textbooks, was very smart at the time of playing chess. He was a great strategist and his pastime was very well known. He would often bring a small chess set with him in order to play in between shooting scenes.

Furthermore, when he would go to Pilar’s tennis games, he would often bring his chess set. There, he would settle on a side trailer and invite fans to play against him. For many, this was an exciting opportunity to meet their idol. More often than not, he would beat them.

He Was Part Of The Freemasons

Since a very young age, Wayne had gotten involved and interested in masonry. In a ceremony that took place in 1970, he received his Masonic Bible and was registered a Master Mason in Marion McDaniel Lodge in Arizona. He would continue to be so the rest of his life.

Furthermore, he joined a mason temple in Los Angeles. Specifically, it was the Al Malaikah Shrine Temple. This fraternity organization is known of but their rites and costumes are not commonly known. However, for Wayne, it had been a part of his life since his high school years.

Wayne Could Be A Jokester Around His Friends

John Wayne had a very close friendship with Ward Bond. They starred in 23 films together and they both played football at the same college. Throughout the years, they forged a strong friendship with plenty of funny anecdotes they could tell to their children and grandchildren.

On one occasion, they made a bet. Bond told Wayne he wouldn’t be able to beat him over the distance of an open newspaper. Bond cheated as at the last minute, he closed the door between them. Wayne, not one to back down, punched through the door and reached Bond.

Another Very Famous & Very Good Friend

It was uncertain how the two of them met but it was a common knowledge that Lucille Ball and John Wayne were great friends. It had been speculated that it might have been during Wayne’s romance with Maureen O’Hara. After all, Maureen was Lucille’s roommate at some point.

Sources said that by the time in which Wayne made a special appearance at Lucy’s show, they were already very good friends. They professed great admiration for each other. Despite rampant rumors, they never were romantically involved, which would’ve been adultery on their part.

His Yacht Was Probably His Favorite Possession

John Wayne was the proud owner of a luxury yacht. It was called the Wild Goose and he kept it harbored at Newport Beach. If you need to ask yourself about the magnitude of Wayne’s legacy, keep in mind that this place was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Wild Goose was the replacement of Wayne’s smaller and prior boat, the Norwester. Wayne was known to spend long periods of time enjoying his yacht. He decided to go for the bigger vessel in order to better fit his family. Outings with the entire crew were not uncommon.

An International Icon of American Values

John Wayne became known as the personification of American values. This was why in time, he refused to take on roles that could compromise this image. Furthermore, international leaders identified him with what the United States represented. Japanese Emperor Hirohito asked to meet Wayne during his visit to the United States.

He wasn’t the only one. Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union, requested to meet him when he was visiting in the United States. His prolific work and immense fame allowed him to establish a net worth of around $50 million by the time of his death.

An Epic Tombstone For An Epic Man

For a long time, John Wayne’s grave went unmarked. His descendants feared that it could be vandalized. On the tomb, the image of a cowboy riding a horse can be seen as well as the final words Wayne wanted to be engraved. He chose a quote that referred to the Western lifestyle.

The words allude to the fact that the future always comes, hoping that we have learned something from our prior experiences. It was something that Wayne had remarked in an interview. Despite not having higher education, Wayne always showed his smarts, to the very end.

Facing Sickness With Optimism

Wayne was a heavy smoker for most of his life. The strong association between smoking cigarettes and developing different types of cancer are now known. Back then, information was not as widespread and available. When Wayne was diagnosed, he alluded to the disease as “The Big C.”

His use of this euphemism was an attempt at making the situation less scary for the studios. His hope was that he would be able to continue filming despite his diagnosis. He recovered from the lung malignancy but not from the stomach cancer that ended his life in 1979.

The Intermittent Hairpiece

Decades before his death, Wayne decided to start wearing a wig. However, he was very inconstant at it and he would sometimes be seen without it at public events. He was never shy about the fact that it wasn’t his own mane but he clarified that it was real hair.

The toupee became somewhat of a common thing amongst actors. Wayne mostly used it for filming and custom-made pieces were found among his belongings after his death. They were sold as valuable memorabilia after their discovery. Wayne might have normalized the use of toupees by men in the United States.

His Name Continues To Inspire

In 1985, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation was founded, six years after his death. Its goal is to promote research regarding the disease as well as inspiration and support for the patients. With Wayne’s grit and fighting attitude always at the forefront and with his family’s blessing, the foundation has been thriving.

Furthermore, friends of Wayne started an annual event in Arizona. The Louie and the Duke Classics aim to raise funds for these foundations as well as for the American Cancer Society. Aside from a golf tournament as the main event, Wayne’s memorabilia are also part of an auction.