John Wayne
Known for: Acting
Marion Mitchell Morrison (born Marion Robert Morrison) (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor and filmmaker. An Academy Award-winner for True Grit (1969), Wayne was among the top box office draws for three decades. Born in Winterset, Iowa, Wayne grew up in Southern California. He was president of Glendale High class of 1925. He found work at local film studios when he lost his football scholarship to the University of Southern California as a result of a bodysurfing accident. Initially working for the Fox Film Corporation, he appeared mostly in small bit parts. His first leading role came in Raoul Walsh's The Big Trail (1930), which led to leading roles in numerous B movies throughout the 1930s, many of them in the Western genre. Wayne's career took off in 1939, with John Ford's Stagecoach making him an instant star. He went on to star in 142 pictures. Biographer Ronald Davis said, "John Wayne personified for millions the nation's frontier heritage. Eighty-three of his movies were Westerns, and in them, he played cowboys, cavalrymen, and unconquerable loners extracted from the Republic's central creation myth." Wayne's other well-known Western roles include a cattleman driving his herd north on the Chisholm Trail in Red River (1948), a Civil War veteran whose young niece is abducted by a tribe of Comanches in The Searchers (1956), and a troubled rancher competing with a lawyer for a woman's hand in marriage in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). He is also remembered for his roles in The Quiet Man (1952), Rio Bravo (1959), and The Longest Day (1962). In his final screen performance, he starred as an aging gunfighter battling cancer in The Shootist (1976). He appeared with many important Hollywood stars of his era, and his last public appearance was at the Academy Awards ceremony on April 9, 1979.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self (archive footage)
1961
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Wagon Train
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
1957
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
The Beverly Hillbillies
John Wayne (uncredited)
1962
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest
1950
Series
I Love Lucy
John Wayne
1951
Series
The Lucy Show
John Wayne
1962
Series
Sacrée soirée
Self (archive footage)
1987
Series
The Red Skelton Show
Self
1951
Series
The Red Skelton Show
Self (uncredited)
1951
Series
The Red Skelton Show
Self - Rooster Cogburn
1951
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
Gunsmoke
Self - Host, Introduction to the Series
1955
Series
Spécial cinéma
Self (archive footage)
1974
Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self
1957
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
1968
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self
1968
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
1968
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
The Bob Hope Show
Self - Cameo
1950
Series
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
Series
The Jack Benny Program
John Wayne
1950
Series
Screen Director's Playhouse
Mike Cronin
1955
Series
Maude
Himself
1972
Producers' Showcase
Self
1954
Series
Cinépanorama
Self
1956
Series
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self
1969
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
1971
Series
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973
Series
Alcoa Premiere
1961
Film
The Longest Day
Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort
1962
Series
Western von gestern
John Wyatt aka John Allen (archive footage)
1978
Series
Western von gestern
John Wyatt aka John Allen
1978
Series
Western von gestern
Stony Brooke (archive footage)
1978
Film
The Searchers
Ethan Edwards
1956
Series
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self
1973
Series
Talking Pictures
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
True Grit
Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn
1969
Film
Rio Bravo
Sheriff John T. Chance
1959
Film
Flying Leathernecks
Maj. Daniel Xavier Kirby
1951
Film
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Tom Doniphon
1962
Film
Hondo
Hondo Lane
1953
Film
El Dorado
Cole Thornton
1966
Film
Fort Apache
Capt. Kirby York
1948
Film
The Green Berets
Colonel Mike Kirby
1968
Film
Rio Lobo
Col. Cord McNally
1970
Film
Chisum
John Chisum
1970
Film
The Alamo
Col. Davy Crockett
1960
Film
The Shootist
J.B. Books
1976
Film
Stagecoach
The Ringo Kid
1939
Film
The Train Robbers
Lane
1973
Film
The Undefeated
Colonel John Henry Thomas
1969
Film
Red River
Thomas Dunson
1948
Film
How the West Was Won
William Sherman
1962
Film
Big Jake
Jacob McCandles
1971
Film
McLintock!
George Washington McLintock
1963
Film
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Centurion at crucifixion
1965
Series
Hollywood
Self
1980
Film
Rio Grande
Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke
1950
Film
The Cowboys
Wil Andersen
1972
Film
3 Godfathers
Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower
1948
Film
The Fighting Seabees
Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan
1944
Film
The War Wagon
Taw Jackson
1967
Film
Hatari!
Sean Mercer
1962
Film
The Quiet Man
Sean Thornton
1952
Film
In Harm's Way
Capt. Rockwell Torrey
1965
Film
The Comancheros
Jake Cutter
1961
Film
Rooster Cogburn
Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn
1975
Film
The Sons of Katie Elder
John Elder
1965
Film
The Horse Soldiers
Col John Marlowe
1959
Film
Baby Face
Jimmy McCoy Jr.
1933
Film
North to Alaska
Sam McCord
1960
Film
Operation Pacific
Duke E. Gifford
1951
Film
The Big Trail
Breck Coleman
1930
Film
The Conqueror
Temujin
1956
Film
The High and the Mighty
Dan Roman
1954
Film
They Were Expendable
Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
1945
Film
Brannigan
Lt. Jim Brannigan
1975
Film
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Capt. Nathan Cutting Brittles
1949
Film
Donovan's Reef
Michael "Guns" Donovan
1963
Film
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1988
Film
Cahill: United States Marshal
J.D. Cahill
1973
Series
Hollywood and the Stars
Self (archive footage)
1963
Film
The Spoilers
Glennister
1942
Film
Flying Tigers
Jim Gordon
1942
Film
Sands of Iwo Jima
Sgt. John M. Stryker
1950
Film
McQ
McQ
1974
Film
In Old Oklahoma
Daniel F Somers
1943
Film
Central Airport
1933
Film
Tall in the Saddle
Rocklin
1944
Film
Cast a Giant Shadow
Gen. Mike Randolph
1966
Series
Casablanca
1955
Film
Salute
1929
Film
Without Reservations
Rusty Thomas
1946
Film
Reap the Wild Wind
Captain Jack Stuart
1942
Film
The Range Feud
Clint Turner
1931
Film
Born Reckless
Extra (uncredited)
1930
Film
Westward Ho
John Wyatt
1935
Film
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
Film
Circus World
Matt Masters
1964
Film
Dakota
John Devlin
1945
Film
Desert Command
Tom Wayne
1946
Film
The Trail Beyond
Rod Drew
1934
Film
The Lawless Nineties
John Tipton
1936
Film
Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
Hellfighters
Chance Buckman
1968
Film
Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire
Self (archive footage)
1991
Film
Blood Alley
Capt. Tom Wilder
1955
Film
Blue Steel
John Carruthers
1934
Film
Seven Sinners
Dan
1940
Film
Lawless Range
John Middleton
1935
Film
Back to Bataan
Colonel Joseph Madden
1945
Film
Dark Command
Bob Seton
1940
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
1999
Film
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self (archive footage)
1997
Film
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Self (archive)
2017
Film
Jet Pilot
Col. Jim Shannon
1957
Film
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Self (archive footage)
2010
Film
Tycoon
Johnny Munroe
1947
Film
Angel and the Badman
Quirt Evans
1947
Film
La Classe américaine
George Abitbol (archive footage)
1993
Film
The Fighting Kentuckian
John Breen
1949
Film
The Black Watch
Black Watch Soldier (uncredited)
1929
Film
Winds of the Wasteland
John Blair
1936
Film
Directed by John Ford
Self (1969)
1971
Three Lives
Self
1953
Film
Legend of the Lost
Joe January
1957
Film
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
Film
The Wings of Eagles
Frank W. 'Spig' Wead
1957
Film
Lady for a Night
Jackson Morgan
1942
Film
The Shepherd of the Hills
Young Matt Matthews
1941
Film
It's Showtime
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
The Long Voyage Home
Ole Olsen
1940
Film
Sagebrush Trail
John Brant
1933
Film
In Old California
Tom Craig
1942
Film
Noah's Ark
Flood Extra (uncredited)
1928
Film
Island in the Sky
Captain Dooley
1953
Film
Four Sons
1928
Film
The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks
Self (archive footage)
1973
Film
The Hurricane Express
The Air Pilot
1932
Film
Allegheny Uprising
Jim Smith
1939
Film
Big Jim McLain
Jim McLain
1952
Film
Haunted Gold
John Mason
1932
Film
Showbiz Goes to War
Self (archive footage)
1982
Film
Elway
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
Three Faces West
John Phillips
1940
Film
Wake of the Red Witch
Capt. Ralls
1948
Film
The Night Riders
Stony Brooke
1939
Film
The Barbarian and the Geisha
Townsend Harris
1958
Film
The Sea Chase
Captain Karl Ehrlich
1955
Film
Wyoming Outlaw
Stony Brooke
1939
Film
Trouble Along the Way
Stephen Aloysius Williams
1953
Film
Reunion in France
Pat Talbot
1942
Film
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
Self (archive footage)
2002
Battleground
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
Somewhere in Sonora
John Bishop
1933
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
Raquel!
Self
1970
Film
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Self - Host
1970
Film
The Lawless Frontier
John Tobin
1934
Film
Texas Terror
John Higgins
1935
Film
Riders of Destiny
Singin' Sandy Saunders
1933
Film
Hell Town
Dare Rudd
1937
The Screen Director
Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
1951
Film
Flame of Barbary Coast
Duke Fergus
1945
Film
The Three Musketeers
Lt. Tom Wayne
1933
Film
The Star Packer
U.S. Marshal John Travers
1934
Film
Texas Cyclone
Steve Pickett
1932
Film
Annie Laurie
1927
Film
His Private Secretary
Dick Wallace
1933
Film
The Lonely Trail
Captain John Ashley
1936
Film
Men Without Women
Radioman on Surface (uncredited)
1930
Film
Adventure's End
Duke Slade
1937
Film
Arizona
Lt. Bob Denton
1931
Film
West of the Divide
Ted Hayden aka Gat Ganns
1934
Film
The Desert Trail
John Scott / John Jones
1935
Film
New Frontier
Stony Brooke
1939
Film
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roaster (archive footage)
1998
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
Davy Crockett
1992
Film
Cancel My Reservation
Himself (uncredited)
1972
Film
Next Of Kin
Ted Hayden aka Gat Ganns
1934
Film
Flashing Spikes
Marine Sergeant
1962
Film
Pittsburgh
Charles 'Pittsburgh' Markham
1942
Film
The New Frontier
John Dawson
1935
Film
John Ford: The Man Who Invented America
Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
2019
Film
Fugitive
John
1933
Film
Randy Rides Alone
Randy Bowers
1934
Dateline: Hollywood
1967
Film
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
(archive footage)
1975
Film
A Lady Takes a Chance
Duke Hudkins
1943
Film
The Colter Craven Story
1960
Film
Red River Range
Stony Brooke
1938
Film
Paradise Canyon
John Wyatt
1935
Film
Mother Machree
1927
Film
Bardelys the Magnificent
Guard (uncredited)
1926
Film
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
2009
Film
The Lucky Texan
Jerry Mason
1934
Film
John Wayne - Eine amerikanische Legende
(archive footage)
1991
Film
Girls Demand Excitement
Peter Brooks
1931
The Deceiver
Reginald Thorpe as a corpse
1931
Film
Cheer Up and Smile
1930
Film
Lady from Louisiana
John Reynolds
1941
That's Action
self
1977
Film
Rainbow Valley
John Martin
1935
Film
Santa Fe Stampede
Stony Brooke
1938
Film
Hooray for Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
'Neath the Arizona Skies
Chris Morrell
1934
Film
Overland Stage Raiders
Stony Brooke
1938
Film
Hangman's House
Horse Race Spectator / Condemned Man in Flashback
1928
Film
Born to the West
Dare Rudd
1937
Film
A Man Betrayed
Lynn Hollister
1941
Film
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
1984
Film
Rough Romance
Lumberjack (uncredited)
1930
Film
John Wayne-A Life on Film
Himself
2000
Film
Guns Along The Trail
John Wyatt
1935
Film
Conflict
Pat Glendon
1936
Film
Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1974
Film
Maker of Men
Dusty Rhodes
1931
Film
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
1976
Film
Klondike Gold
Rod Drew
1934
Film
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
Smith
1933
Film
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
Jerry Mason
1976
Film
The Duke at Fox
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
The Big Stampede
Deputy Sheriff John Steele
1932
Film
Atomic People
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
The Shadow of the Eagle
Craig McCoy
1932
Film
College Coach
Football player (uncredited)
1933
Film
Avenging Angel
John Mason
1935
Film
The Dawn Rider
John Mason
1935
Film
Words and Music
Pete Donahue (as Duke Morrison)
1929
Film
I Married a Woman
Actor in a Movie (uncredited)
1958
Film
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On
2001
Film
Christmas Around the World with Perry Como
Self
2012
Film
Speakeasy
Extra
1929
Film
Claim Jumpers
Jerry Mason
1934
Film
Ride Him, Cowboy
John Drury
1932
Film
The Victory Squad
Self - Host
1966
Film
The American West of John Ford
Self - Narrator
1971
Film
The Great K&A Train Robbery
Extra (uncredited)
1926
Film
Dictator: One Crazy Job
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
The Stagecoach Race
John Blair
1936
Film
The Drop Kick
Football Player / Extra in Stands
1927
Film
The Draw-Back
Opposing Football Player
1927
Film
Sea Spoilers
Bob Randall
1936
Film
The Man from Utah
John Weston
1934
Film
Movie Tough Guys
Self (archive footage)
1991
Film
I Cover the War!
Bob Adams
1937
Film
The Telegraph Trail
John Trent
1933
Film
Proust Palimpsesto: Pastiches e Misturas
Ethan Edwards (archive footage) (uncredited)
2026
Film
The Man from Monterey
John Holmes
1933
Film
John Ford & Monument Valley
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
Three Girls Lost
Gordon Wales
1931
Film
Two-Fisted Law
Duke
1932
Film
King of the Pecos
John Clayborn
1936
Film
California Straight Ahead
Biff Smith
1937
Film
The Oregon Trail
Capt John Delmont
1936
Film
The Shadow Gang
U.S. Marshal John Travers
1934
Film
Three Texas Steers
Stony Brooke
1939
Film
John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons
Self (Archive Footage)
2023
Film
Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo
Self
1970
The Challenge of Ideas
Self
1961
Film
John Ford and Throwing
2022
Film
Rodeo Rocketeers
John Weston
1934
Film
The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
Brown of Harvard
Yale LIneback Player
1926
The Hollywood Handicap
1932
Film
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
1976
Film
Memo for Joe
Self
1944
Film
The John Wayne Story - The Later Years
Himself
1993
Film
Cowboy G-Man
John Wyatt
1935
Film
John Wayne - America at All Costs
Himself (archive footage)
2019
Film
The Making of 'Rio Grande'
Self (archive footage)
1993
Film
Lady and Gent
Buzz Kinney
1932
Film
On the Run
John Jones
1935
Film
Pals of the Saddle
Stony Brooke
1938
Film
Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend
Himself/Narrator
1976
Rodeo Racketeers
Film
The Drifter
Randy
1934
Film
The John Wayne Story: The Early Years
1993
Choice
Host
1964
The Making of A Movie
Himself
1965
Film
This Little Bullet
Host
1977
Film
The Western: A Lost TV Special
Self
1958
Running Hollywood
Emcee
1932
Film
The Selling of the Pentagon
Self (archive footage)
1971
Film
Gérard Blain : adultes, je vous hais
Self (archive)
2019
Film
Wayne Train
Self
1973
Film
The 10 from Texas
(archive footage)
1961
Film
Nuke 'Em, Duke
Self (archive footage)
2010
Film
Idol of the Crowds
Johnny Hanson
1937
Film
A Nation Builds Under Fire
Narrator
1967
Film
No Substitute for Victory
Sekf
1970
Film
Bandits of the Badlands
John Carruthers
1934
The Man Behind the Star
Self
1973
Film
Vengence is Mine
John Tobin
1934
John Wayne: American Hero Of The Movies
1990
Film
Perry Como's Early American Christmas
Self
1978
Film
A Home Made Man
Man on Stool
1928
JOHN WAYNE - AMERICAN LEGEND
Himself
1998
Film
Naughty America: Guns & Stripes
Self (archive footage)
2025
Young Duke: Making Of A Movie Star
Himself
1993
Film
Spiritual day in Minneapolis
2026
You're the Star
Self
1953
Film
John Wayne on Film
Himself
2016
Desert Command
Tom Wayne