Did you know?
John Wayne was born at 1:00pm-CST, in a small two-room home in Winterset, Iowa. He weighed 13 pounds at birth. The home still exists and has been a museum dedicated to John Wayne for many years, as well as a popular tourist location for Wayne fans from around the world. Plans are currently in the making to build an even larger John Wayne museum and theater nearby.
There has long been some confusion as to John Wayne’s actual birth name. Some claim it was Marion Mitchell Morrison, other claim it was Marion Michael Morrison, and yet others say it was Marion Robert Morrison. John Wayne’s birth certificate, which is on display at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset, Iowa, shows that his birth name was Marion Robert Morrison. When John Wayne’s brother was born, he was named Robert Emmett Morrison, and Wayne’s mother changed Wayne’s middle name to Michael (or so the story goes), or she may have changed it to Mitchell (as other stories go). The fact of the matter is, however, that his name was never legally changed. He was born Marion Robert Morrison, and that was his legal name throughout his entire life.
John Wayne had seven children. Four with his first wife Josephine (Michael, Antonia [Toni], Melinda, and Patrick), and three with his third wife Pilar (Aissa, Ethan, and Marissa). Wayne and his second wife Chata had no children.
John Wayne is the grandfather of actor/stuntman Brendan Wayne and country singer Jennifer Wayne. He is also the great-uncle of boxer/actor Tommy “The Duke” Morrison.
While at the University of Southern California, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
In his leisure time, John Wayne enjoyed playing chess, poker and bridge, and was quite accomplished at all of them.
John Wayne’s favorite drink was Suaza Commemorativo tequila.
John Wayne holds the record for the actor with the most leading parts - 142. In all but eleven of his films he played the leading part.
John Wayne was an honorary United States Marshal. Only two others have been accorded that honor - Ronald Reagan and John Walsh.
Many people thought he didn’t have much of sense of humor. Not true. He loved practical jokes, and his appearance on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" wearing a fluffy pink bunny costume should have laid to rest any doubts about his sense of humor.
John Wayne’s production company Batjac was named after the shipping company featured in the film Wake of the Red Witch. In the film, the company was called Batjak, but a typographical error made when Wayne’s company was being created spelled the name Batjac, and the spelling was left as such.
John Wayne had his own comic book series, John Wayne Adventure Comics, published by Toby Press, which ran from 1949 – 1955 (31 issues). There was also a version printed in the U.K. (same title – different stories) which ran from 1952-1958 (82 issues). The U.K. version also hadJohn Wayne Adventure Annuals which were published once a year from 1953-1959 (6 annuals). Both Dell and Gold Key comics also published comic books for several of John Wayne’s films. In 1995, a comic book series entitled Preacher (Vertigo comics) was introduced, and ran for 66 issues until 2000. A recurring character in this comic book series was an apparition named “Duke,” whose role it was to help the main character, Jesse Custer. Although not directly stated, “Duke,” who has the same mannerisms as John Wayne, was clearly John Wayne, although he face was usually partially obscured in shadow. John Wayne also made a one-time appearance in the comic book Sandman, as well as in a plethora of newspaper political cartoons and comic strips (most notably Robotman)
Wayne received his stage name of John Wayne from director Raoul Walsh when Walsh cast him in his first starring role as Breck Coleman in The Big Trail (1930).
During the location shooting of 1930’s The Big Trail, the cast and crew travelled to Wyoming. The location was quite primitive and the only lodging available to them were a couple of trappers cabins. The crew set about building more cabins (which would be needed for specific scenes as well as lodging), and Wayne helped build some of those cabins. The site later became the town of Moran, Wyoming.
Politically active, he actively supported and campaigned for both Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, and he addressed the 1968 Republican National Convention.
In 1953, John Wayne accepted the Academy Award for “Best Actor in a Leading Role” on behalf of his close friend Gary Cooper. Cooper won the award for his role as Marshal Will Kane in High Noon, a film which Wayne personally did not like.
During the filming of The Undefeated in 1969, Wayne fell from his horse and suffered three broken ribs as well as torn ligament in his shoulder which prevented use of that arm. He refused to stop working, however, being concerned that he might disappoint his many fans, and in spite of intense pain, he continued to work. Because of this, Andrew McLaglen, the film’s director, could only film Wayne from an angle for the remainder of the shooting.
When John Wayne made his 1964 cameo appearance on the television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (episode: The Indians Are Coming), he was asked how he wanted to be paid. Wayne replied, “Give me a fifth of bourbon and that’ll square it.”
Well known as a practical joker amongst his close friends, Wayne and Ward Bond were constantly trying to one-up each other. In one instance, Bond bet Wayne that if they both stood o the same sheet of newspaper, Wayne would not be able to hit him. Wayne took the bet, and Bond placed the newspaper on the floor in a doorway. As Wayne stood on his end of the newspaper, Bond closed the door and stood on his end of the newspaper (on the other side of the door) and shouted “Try and hit me now!” Not wanting Bond to get the upper hand, Wayne slammed his huge fist right through the door and knocked Bond to the floor. Wayne won the bet.
John Wayne repeatedly acknowledged his close friend and mentor John Ford as being responsible for his success in motion pictures. They spent many hours together over the course of their lives, and much of that time was spent aboard Ford’s yacht, Araner.
In 1973, John Wayne released a spoken word album for RCA Victor. The album was titled America – Why I Love Her. It was a hit and John Wayne won a Grammy for it. After the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the album was re-issued and once again became a best seller.
John Wayne has appeared on three United States postage stamps. The first was released on March 23, 1990, and was part of a four commemorative stamp set honoring classic films. Wayne appeared on that stamp as the Ringo Kid. On September 9, 2004, Wayne was honored with his own stamp and due to be released in 2012 is a stamp honoring Wayne’s friend, director John Ford. Wayne appears on that stamp in the closing scene from The Searchers.
John Wayne won the People’s Choice Award for Most Popular Motion Picture Actor in 1976. The award was presented by his close friend Maureen O’Hara.
In 1924, John Wayne was initiated into DeMolay (a Masonic organization) in Glendale, California. He received the DeMolay Legion of Honor in 1970. On November 13, 1986, John Wayne was inducted into the DeMolay Hall of Fame – one of the first to be awarded that honor.
In 1973 John Wayne was awarded the Gold Medal from the National Football Foundation.
In 1974, Wayne was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers in the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
He was voted the fifth greatest movie star of all time by Entertainment Weekly, and the fourth greatest movie star by Premiere Magazine. He ranked number 13 on the list of actors on the American Film Institute’s 50 Greatest Screen Legends.
In 1980 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by then President Jimmy Carter.
In September 1964,Wayne was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California to have a cancerous lung removed. Fearing the surgery would lead to a loss of film roles and fan base, Wayne’s producers and publicists concocted the story that he was only being treated for lung congestion. When he was visited by Hollywood columnist Jim Bacon, Wayne complained that his producers only cared about box office receipts, told Bacon the real reason for his hospitalization and insisted that the columnist tell the truth about Wayne’s cancer. After his release from the hospital, Wayne held a press conference and in spite of his producers wishes, he told the reporters that he had “licked the Big C.” After the story broke, thousands of cancer victims and their relatives wrote to Wayne saying that his battle against cancer had given them hope that they previously did not have.
When John Wayne died on June 11, 1979, the Olympic Torch at the Los Angeles Coliseum was lit in honor of his memory. The torch remained lit until his funeral four days later.
John Wayne’s grave remained unmarked after his death, as his family was concerned that someone may try to damage or desecrate his final resting place. In 1999, his grave finally received a plaque.
Eighteen years after his death, John Wayne ranked #16 in Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
John Wayne was born at 1:00pm-CST, in a small two-room home in Winterset, Iowa. He weighed 13 pounds at birth. The home still exists and has been a museum dedicated to John Wayne for many years, as well as a popular tourist location for Wayne fans from around the world. Plans are currently in the making to build an even larger John Wayne museum and theater nearby.
There has long been some confusion as to John Wayne’s actual birth name. Some claim it was Marion Mitchell Morrison, other claim it was Marion Michael Morrison, and yet others say it was Marion Robert Morrison. John Wayne’s birth certificate, which is on display at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset, Iowa, shows that his birth name was Marion Robert Morrison. When John Wayne’s brother was born, he was named Robert Emmett Morrison, and Wayne’s mother changed Wayne’s middle name to Michael (or so the story goes), or she may have changed it to Mitchell (as other stories go). The fact of the matter is, however, that his name was never legally changed. He was born Marion Robert Morrison, and that was his legal name throughout his entire life.
John Wayne had seven children. Four with his first wife Josephine (Michael, Antonia [Toni], Melinda, and Patrick), and three with his third wife Pilar (Aissa, Ethan, and Marissa). Wayne and his second wife Chata had no children.
John Wayne is the grandfather of actor/stuntman Brendan Wayne and country singer Jennifer Wayne. He is also the great-uncle of boxer/actor Tommy “The Duke” Morrison.
While at the University of Southern California, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
In his leisure time, John Wayne enjoyed playing chess, poker and bridge, and was quite accomplished at all of them.
John Wayne’s favorite drink was Suaza Commemorativo tequila.
John Wayne holds the record for the actor with the most leading parts - 142. In all but eleven of his films he played the leading part.
John Wayne was an honorary United States Marshal. Only two others have been accorded that honor - Ronald Reagan and John Walsh.
Many people thought he didn’t have much of sense of humor. Not true. He loved practical jokes, and his appearance on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" wearing a fluffy pink bunny costume should have laid to rest any doubts about his sense of humor.
John Wayne’s production company Batjac was named after the shipping company featured in the film Wake of the Red Witch. In the film, the company was called Batjak, but a typographical error made when Wayne’s company was being created spelled the name Batjac, and the spelling was left as such.
John Wayne had his own comic book series, John Wayne Adventure Comics, published by Toby Press, which ran from 1949 – 1955 (31 issues). There was also a version printed in the U.K. (same title – different stories) which ran from 1952-1958 (82 issues). The U.K. version also hadJohn Wayne Adventure Annuals which were published once a year from 1953-1959 (6 annuals). Both Dell and Gold Key comics also published comic books for several of John Wayne’s films. In 1995, a comic book series entitled Preacher (Vertigo comics) was introduced, and ran for 66 issues until 2000. A recurring character in this comic book series was an apparition named “Duke,” whose role it was to help the main character, Jesse Custer. Although not directly stated, “Duke,” who has the same mannerisms as John Wayne, was clearly John Wayne, although he face was usually partially obscured in shadow. John Wayne also made a one-time appearance in the comic book Sandman, as well as in a plethora of newspaper political cartoons and comic strips (most notably Robotman)
Wayne received his stage name of John Wayne from director Raoul Walsh when Walsh cast him in his first starring role as Breck Coleman in The Big Trail (1930).
During the location shooting of 1930’s The Big Trail, the cast and crew travelled to Wyoming. The location was quite primitive and the only lodging available to them were a couple of trappers cabins. The crew set about building more cabins (which would be needed for specific scenes as well as lodging), and Wayne helped build some of those cabins. The site later became the town of Moran, Wyoming.
Politically active, he actively supported and campaigned for both Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, and he addressed the 1968 Republican National Convention.
In 1953, John Wayne accepted the Academy Award for “Best Actor in a Leading Role” on behalf of his close friend Gary Cooper. Cooper won the award for his role as Marshal Will Kane in High Noon, a film which Wayne personally did not like.
During the filming of The Undefeated in 1969, Wayne fell from his horse and suffered three broken ribs as well as torn ligament in his shoulder which prevented use of that arm. He refused to stop working, however, being concerned that he might disappoint his many fans, and in spite of intense pain, he continued to work. Because of this, Andrew McLaglen, the film’s director, could only film Wayne from an angle for the remainder of the shooting.
When John Wayne made his 1964 cameo appearance on the television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (episode: The Indians Are Coming), he was asked how he wanted to be paid. Wayne replied, “Give me a fifth of bourbon and that’ll square it.”
Well known as a practical joker amongst his close friends, Wayne and Ward Bond were constantly trying to one-up each other. In one instance, Bond bet Wayne that if they both stood o the same sheet of newspaper, Wayne would not be able to hit him. Wayne took the bet, and Bond placed the newspaper on the floor in a doorway. As Wayne stood on his end of the newspaper, Bond closed the door and stood on his end of the newspaper (on the other side of the door) and shouted “Try and hit me now!” Not wanting Bond to get the upper hand, Wayne slammed his huge fist right through the door and knocked Bond to the floor. Wayne won the bet.
John Wayne repeatedly acknowledged his close friend and mentor John Ford as being responsible for his success in motion pictures. They spent many hours together over the course of their lives, and much of that time was spent aboard Ford’s yacht, Araner.
In 1973, John Wayne released a spoken word album for RCA Victor. The album was titled America – Why I Love Her. It was a hit and John Wayne won a Grammy for it. After the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the album was re-issued and once again became a best seller.
John Wayne has appeared on three United States postage stamps. The first was released on March 23, 1990, and was part of a four commemorative stamp set honoring classic films. Wayne appeared on that stamp as the Ringo Kid. On September 9, 2004, Wayne was honored with his own stamp and due to be released in 2012 is a stamp honoring Wayne’s friend, director John Ford. Wayne appears on that stamp in the closing scene from The Searchers.
John Wayne won the People’s Choice Award for Most Popular Motion Picture Actor in 1976. The award was presented by his close friend Maureen O’Hara.
In 1924, John Wayne was initiated into DeMolay (a Masonic organization) in Glendale, California. He received the DeMolay Legion of Honor in 1970. On November 13, 1986, John Wayne was inducted into the DeMolay Hall of Fame – one of the first to be awarded that honor.
In 1973 John Wayne was awarded the Gold Medal from the National Football Foundation.
In 1974, Wayne was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers in the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
He was voted the fifth greatest movie star of all time by Entertainment Weekly, and the fourth greatest movie star by Premiere Magazine. He ranked number 13 on the list of actors on the American Film Institute’s 50 Greatest Screen Legends.
In 1980 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by then President Jimmy Carter.
In September 1964,Wayne was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California to have a cancerous lung removed. Fearing the surgery would lead to a loss of film roles and fan base, Wayne’s producers and publicists concocted the story that he was only being treated for lung congestion. When he was visited by Hollywood columnist Jim Bacon, Wayne complained that his producers only cared about box office receipts, told Bacon the real reason for his hospitalization and insisted that the columnist tell the truth about Wayne’s cancer. After his release from the hospital, Wayne held a press conference and in spite of his producers wishes, he told the reporters that he had “licked the Big C.” After the story broke, thousands of cancer victims and their relatives wrote to Wayne saying that his battle against cancer had given them hope that they previously did not have.
When John Wayne died on June 11, 1979, the Olympic Torch at the Los Angeles Coliseum was lit in honor of his memory. The torch remained lit until his funeral four days later.
John Wayne’s grave remained unmarked after his death, as his family was concerned that someone may try to damage or desecrate his final resting place. In 1999, his grave finally received a plaque.
Eighteen years after his death, John Wayne ranked #16 in Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
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