1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
2. Joe Viterelli to Orson Welles

John Wayne Biography (1907-1979)

Original name, Marion Michael Morrison; born May 26, 1907, in Winterset, IA;died of cancer, June 11, 1979, in Los Angeles, CA; son of Clyde (a pharmacist) and Mary Morrison; married Josephine Saenz, 1933 (divorced, 1945); marriedEsperanza Bauer, 1946 (divorced, 1954), married Pilar Palette, 1954; children: (second marriage) Michael (a producer), Patrick (an actor), Toni, Melinda;(third marriage) Aissia, John Ethan (an actor), Marisa.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

May 26, 1907

Winterset, Iowa, United States

Death Details

June 11, 1979

Los Angeles, California, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Film Appearances
• (Uncredited) Brown of Harvard, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1926.
• Guard, Bardelys the Magnificent, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1926.
• (Uncredited) The Great K and A Train Robbery, Fox Film Corporation, 1926.
• (Uncredited) Annie Laurie, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1927.
• (Uncredited) University of Southern California football player, The DropKick (also known as Glitter), First National Pictures, 1927.
• (Uncredited) Mother Machree, Fox Film Corporation, 1928.
• (Uncredited) Spectator at horse race and condemned man in flashback, Hangman's House, Fox Film Corporation, 1928.
• (Uncredited) Noah's Ark, Warner Bros., 1929.
• (Uncredited) The Black Watch, Fox Film Corporation, 1929.
• (Uncredited) Forward Pass, First National Pictures, 1929.
• (Uncredited) Speakeasy, William Fox Studio, 1929.
• (Uncredited) Football player, Salute, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1929.
• (As Duke Morrison) Pete Donahue, Words and Music, Twentieth Century-Fox,1929.
• (As Duke Morrison) Men without Women, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1930.
• (Uncredited) Born Reckless, Fox Film Corporation, 1930.
• (As Duke Morrison) Rough Romance, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1930.
• (As Duke Morrison) Cheer Up and Smile, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1930.
• Breck Coleman, The Big Trail, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1930.
• Peter Brooks, Girls Demand Excitement, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1931.
• Gordon Wales, Three Girls Lost, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1931.
• Lieutenant Bob Denton, Men Are Like That (also known as Arizona and The Virtuous Wife), Columbia, 1931.
• Clint Turner, Range Feud, Columbia, 1931.
• Dusty, Maker of Men (also known as Yellow), Columbia, 1931.
• A corpse, The Deceiver, Columbia, 1931.
• That's My Boy, Columbia, 1932.
• Announcer, The Voice of Hollywood No. 13, Tiffany, 1932.
• John Steele, The Big Stampede, Warner Bros., 1932.
• John Mason, Haunted Gold, Warner Bros., 1932.
• Buzz Kinney, Lady and Gent (also known as The Challenger), Paramount, 1932.
• John Drury, Ride Him, Cowboy (also known as The Hawk), Warner Bros., 1932.
• Duke, Two-Fisted Law, Columbia, 1932.
• Craig McCoy, Shadow of the Eagle, Mascot Pictures Corporation, 1932.
• Larry Baker, The Hurricane Express, Mascot Pictures Corporation, 1932.
• Steve Pickett, Texas Cyclone, Columbia, 1932.
• The Hollywood Handicap, Universal, 1932.
• Dick Wallace, His Private Secretary, Showmen's, 1933.
• Jimmy McCoy, Baby Face, Warner Bros., 1933.
• Copilot in wreck, Central Airport, Warner Bros., 1933.
• Football player, College Coach (also known as Football Coach), Warner Bros., 1933.
• Smith, The Life of Jimmy Dolan (also known as The Kid's Last Fight), Warner Bros., 1933.
• Captain John Holmes, The Man from Monterey, Warner Bros., 1933.
• Singin' Sandy Saunders, Riders of Destiny, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1933.
• John Bishop, Somewhere in Sonora, Warner Bros., 1933.
• John Trent, The Telegraph Trail, Warner Bros., 1933.
• Tom Wayne, The Three Musketeers, Mascot Pictures Corporation, 1933.
• Marshal John Carruthers, Blue Steel, Lone Star, 1934.
• Jerry Mason, The Lucky Texan, Monogram, 1934.
• John Weston, The Man from Utah, Monogram, 1934.
• Chris Morrell, 'Neath the Arizona Skies (also known as 'Neath Arizona Skies), Monogram, 1934.
• Randy Bowers, Randy Rides Alone, Monogram, 1934.
• John Brant, Sagebrush Trail, Monogram, 1934.
• Rod Drew, The Trail Beyond, Monogram, 1934.
• Ted Hayden, West of the Divide, Monogram, 1934.
• John Travers, The Star Packer, Monogram, 1934.
• John Mason, The Dawn Rider, Lone Star, 1935.
• John Scott, The Desert Trail, Monogram, 1935.
• John Tobin, The Lawless Frontier, Monogram, 1935.
• John Middleton, Lawless Range, Republic, 1935.
• John Dawson, The New Frontier, Republic, 1935.
• John Wyatt, Paradise Canyon (also known as Paradise Ranch), Monogram, 1935.
• John Martin, Rainbow Valley, Monogram, 1935.
• John Higgins, Texas Terror, Monogram, 1935.
• John Clayborn, King of the Pecos, Republic, 1936.
• John Tipton, The Lawless Nineties, Republic, 1936.
• John, The Lonely Trail, Republic, 1936.
• Captain John Delmont, The Oregon Trail, Republic, 1936.
• Bob Randall, The Sea Spoilers, Universal, 1936.
• John Wyatt, Westward Ho, Republic, 1936.
• John Blair, Winds of the Wasteland, Republic, 1936.
• Duke Slade, Adventure's End, Universal, 1937.
• Rudd, Born to the West (also known as Hell Town), Paramount, 1937.
• Biff Smith, California Straight Ahead, Universal, 1937.
• Pat, Conflict, Universal, 1937.
• Bob Adams, I Cover the War, Universal, 1937.
• Johnny Hanson, Idol of the Crowds, Universal, 1937.
• Dare Rudd, Born to the West (also known as Hell Town), Paramount, 1938.
• Stony Brooke, Overland Stage Raiders, Republic, 1938.
• Stony Brooke, Pals of the Saddle, Republic, 1938.
• Stony Brooke, Red River Range, Republic, 1938.
• Stony Brooke, Santa Fe Stampede, Republic, 1938.
• Jim Smith, Allegheny Uprising (also known as The First Rebel), RKO, 1939.
• Stony Brooke, New Frontier (also known as Frontier Horizon), Republic, 1939.
• Stony Brooke, The Night Riders (also known as Lone Star Bullets), Republic, 1939.
• Stony Brooke, Three Texas Steers (also known as Danger Rides the Range),Republic, 1939.
• Stony Brooke, Wyoming Outlaw, Republic, 1939.
• The Ringo Kid, Stagecoach, United Artists, 1939.
• Bob Seton, Dark Command, Republic, 1940.
• Ole Olsen, The Long Voyage Home, United Artists, 1940.
• Lieutenant Bruce Whitney, Seven Sinners (also known as Cafe of the SevenSinners), Universal, 1940.
• John Phillips, Three Faces West (also known as The Refugee), Republic, 1940.
• Melody Ranch, Republic, 1940.
• Jack Morgan, Lady for a Night, Republic, 1941.
• John Reynolds, Lady from Louisiana (also known as Lady from New Orleans),Republic, 1941.
• Lynn Hollister, A Man Betrayed (also known as Citadel of Crime and Wheelof Fortune), Republic, 1941.
• Young Matt Matthews, The Shepherd of the Hills, Paramount, 1941.
• Jim Gordan, Flying Tigers, Republic, 1942.
• Tom Craig, In Old California, Republic, 1942.
• Charles "Pittsburgh" Markham, Pittsburgh, Universal, 1942.
• Captain Jack Stuart, Reap the Wild Wind, Paramount, 1942.
• Pat Talbot, Reunion in France (also known as Mademoiselle France and Reunion), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1942.
• Roy Glennister, The Spoilers, Universal, 1942.
• Dan Somers, In Old Oklahoma (also known as War of the Wildcats), Republic, 1943.
• Duke Hudkins, A Lady Takes a Chance (also known as The Cowboy and the Girl), RKO, 1943.
• Wedge Donovan, The Fighting Seabees (also known as Donovan's Army), Republic, 1944.
• Rocklin, Tall in the Saddle, RKO, 1944.
• Colonel Joe Madden, Back to Bataan (also known as The Invisible Army), RKO, 1945.
• John Devlin, Dakota, Republic, 1945.
• Duke Fergus, Flame of the Barbary Coast, Republic, 1945.
• Lieutenant junior grade Rusty Ryan, They Were Expendable, Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer, 1945.
• Rusty Thomas, Without Reservations (also known as Thank God, I'll Take Itfrom Here), RKO, 1946.
• Quirt Evans, Angel and the Badman (also known as The Angel and the Outlaw), Republic, 1947.
• Johnny Munroe, Tycoon, RKO, 1947.
• Captain Kirby York, Fort Apache (also known as War Party), RKO, 1948.
• Tom Dunson, Red River, United Artists, 1948.
• Robert Marmaduke "Bob" Hightower, The Three Godfathers (also known as 3 Godfathers), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1948.
• John Breen, The Fighting Kentuckian (also known as A Strange Caravan), Republic, 1949.
• Sergeant John M. Stryker, Sands of Iwo Jima, Republic, 1949.
• Captain Nathan Brittles, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, RKO, 1949.
• Captain Ralls, Wake of the Red Witch, Republic, 1949.
• Lieutenant Colonel Kirby Yorke, Rio Grande (also known as Rio Bravo and Rio Bravo, Rio Grande Command), Republic, 1950.
• Major Dan Kirby, Flying Leathernecks, RKO, 1951.
• "Duke" Gifford, Operation Pacific, Warner Bros., 1951.
• Title role, Big Jim McLain (also known as Jim McLain), Warner Bros., 1952.
• Sean Thornton, The Quiet Man, Republic, 1952.
• Captain Dooley, Island in the Sky, Warner Bros., 1953.
• Steve Aloysius Williams, Trouble along the Way (also known as Alma Mater), Warner Bros., 1953.
• Title role (Hondo Lane), Hondo, Warner Bros., 1953.
• Dan Roman, The High and the Mighty, Warner Bros., 1954.
• Wilder, Blood Alley, Warner Bros., 1955.
• Captain Karl Ehrlich, The Sea Chase, Warner Bros., 1955.
• Temujin, later called Genghis Khan, The Conqueror (also known as Conqueror of the Desert), RKO, 1956.
• Ethan Edwards, The Searchers, Warner Bros., 1956.
• Frank W. "Spig" Wead, The Wings of Eagles, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1957.
• Colonel Shannon, Jet Pilot, Universal, 1957.
• Joe January, Legend of the Lost, United Artists, 1957.
• Himself, I Married a Woman, Universal, 1958.
• Townsend Harris, The Barbarian and the Geisha (also known as The TownsendHarris Story), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1958.
• John T. Chance, Rio Bravo, Warner Bros., 1959.
• Colonel John Marlowe, The Horse Soldiers, United Artists, 1959.
• Sam McCord, North to Alaska (also known as Go North), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1960.
• Colonel David "Davy" Crockett, The Alamo, United Artists, 1960.
• Cutter, The Comancheros, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1961.
• Sean Mercer, Hatari! (also known as The African Story), Paramount, 1962.
• Colonel Benjamin Vandervoort, The Longest Day, Twentieth Century- Fox, 1962.
• Tom Doniphon, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Paramount, 1962.
• Michael Patrick "Guns" Donovan, Donovan's Reef, Paramount, 1963.
• General William Tecumseh Sherman, How the West Was Won, Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.
• George Washington McLintock (some sources say McClintock), McLintock! (also known as McClintock and McClintock!), United Artists, 1963.
• Matt Masters, Circus World (also known as The Magnificent Showman), Paramount, 1964.
• Captain Rockwell Torrey, In Harm's Way, Paramount, 1965.
• Centurion, The Greatest Story Ever Told, United Artists, 1965.
• John Elder, The Sons of Katie Elder, Paramount, 1965.
• General Mike Randolph, Cast a Giant Shadow, United Artists, 1966.
• Cole Thornton, El Dorado, Paramount, 1967.
• Taw Jackson, The War Wagon, Universal, 1967.
• Colonel Mike Kirby, The Green Berets, Warner Bros., 1968.
• Chance Buckman, Hellfighters, Universal, 1968.
• Colonel John Henry Thomas, The Undefeated, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1969.
• Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, True Grit, Paramount, 1969.
• Title role (John Simpson Chisum), Chisum, Warner Bros., 1970.
• Colonel Cord McNally, Rio Lobo (also known as San Timoteo), National General, 1970.
• Narrator, No Substitute for Victory, Alaska Pictures, 1970.
• Narrator, Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend (documentary), 1970.
• Title role (Jacob McCandles), Big Jake, National General, 1971.
• Himself, Directed by John Ford, American Film Institute, 1971.
• Will Anderson, The Cowboys, Warner Bros., 1972.
• Himself, Cancel My Reservation, Warner Bros., 1972.
• Title role (J. D. Cahill), Cahill, U.S. Marshal (also known as Cahill, United States Marshal and Wednesday Morning), Warner Bros., 1973.
• Lane, The Train Robbers, Warner Bros., 1973.
• Title role (Detective Lieutenant Lon McQ), McQ, Warner Bros., 1974.
• Title role (Detective Jim Brannigan), Brannigan (also known as Joe Battle), United Artists, 1975.
• Title role (Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn), Rooster Cogburn, Universal, 1975.
• Host, Chesty, 1976.
• Himself, It's Showtime, 1976.
• John Bernard "J. B." Books, The Shootist, Paramount, 1976.
• Credits; Film Appearances; Films Featuring Clips from John Wayne Films
• Going Hollywood: The War Years, 1988.
• Breathing Fire, Imperial Entertainment, 1992.
• Credits; Film Producer; Unless Otherwise Noted
• Angel and the Badman (also known as The Angel and the Outlaw), Republic,1947.
• The Fighting Kentuckian (also known as A Strange Caravan), Republic, 1949.
• Bullfighter and the Lady, Republic, 1951.
• Big Jim McLain (also known as Jim McLain), Warner Bros., 1952.
• (With others) Island in the Sky, Warner Bros., 1953.
• Hondo, Warner Bros., 1953.
• Plunder of the Sun, Warner Bros., 1953.
• The High and the Mighty, Warner Bros., 1954.
• (Uncredited) Ring of Fear, Warner Bros., 1954.
• (With Robert Fellows) Track of the Cat, Warner Bros., 1954; and director(uncredited), Blood Alley, Warner Bros., 1955.
• Good-by, My Lady (also known as Goodbye, My Lady), Warner Bros., 1956.
• (Uncredited) Seven Men from Now, Warner Bros., 1956.
• (Uncredited) Gun the Man Down (also known as Arizona Mission), United Artists, 1956.
• (Uncredited) Man in the Vault, RKO Radio Pictures, 1956.
• (Uncredited) Executive producer (with Robert E. Morrison), China Doll, United Artists, 1958.
• (Uncredited) Escort West, United Artists, 1958; and director, The Alamo,United Artists, 1960.
• Director (uncredited), The Comancheros, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1961.
• Hondo and the Apaches, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1967.
• Director (with Ray Kellogg), The Green Berets, Warner Bros., 1968.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• Plimpton! Showdown at Rio Lobo, ABC, 1970.
• Himself, Raquel, CBS, 1970.
• Everything You Wanted to Know about Jack Benny but Were Afraid to Ask, NBC, 1971.
• Super Comedy Bowl I (also known as Super Comedy Bowl 1), CBS, 1971.
• Host, Swing Out, Sweet Land, NBC, 1971.
• Host and narrator, The American West of John Ford (also known as The Great American West of John Ford), CBS, 1971.
• A Salute to Television's 25th Anniversary, ABC, 1972.
• The Glen Campbell Special: The Musical West, NBC, 1974.
• Bob Hope Special: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television, NBC, 1975.
• Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope on Campus, NBC, 1975.
• The Don Rickles Show, CBS, 1975.
• Dick Cavett's Backlot USA, CBS, 1976.
• Host, The General Electric All-Star Anniversary Show (also known as General Electric's All-Star Anniversary), ABC, 1978.
• The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1979.
• Credits; Television Appearance; Episodic
• Himself (introduces series), "Matt Gets It," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1955.
• Himself, "Lucy and John Wayne," I Love Lucy, CBS, 1955.
• "Rookie of the Year," Screen Directors Playhouse, NBC, 1955.
• "The Louella Parsons Story," Climax, CBS, 1956.
• "The John Wayne Show," The Jack Benny Program, CBS, 1960.
• (As Michael Morris) General William Tecumseh Sherman, "The Colter CravenStory," Wagon Train, NBC, 1960.
• Host, "The Third Side of the Coin," The Dick Powell Show, NBC, 1963.
• Himself, "Lucy and John Wayne," The Lucy Show, CBS, 1966.
• "The Indians Are Coming," The Beverly Hillbillies, CBS, 1967.
• Himself, "John Wayne Meets Maude," Maude, CBS, 1974.
• Performer in archival footage, "John Ford," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1993.
• Also appeared in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (also known as Laugh- In), NBC.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Sergeant-Umpire in Korea, Flaming Spikes, 1962.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Miniseries
• Hollywood, Thames Television, 1980.
• Credits; Stage Appearances
• Voice, Your Own Thing, Orpheum Theatre, New York City, 1968-69.
• Credits; Radio Appearances; Series
• The Three Sheets to the Wind, 1942-43.

Further Reference

Books:

• The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, second edition, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1992.