John Wayne: Acting Legend and American Hero
John Wayne can be described as a true American hero. He had rugged looks, enjoyed American football, and was an actor. Like so many other idols before him, like Elvis and Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne’s popularity after death seems even to have eclipsed the fame he enjoyed in life.
The flame of his memory is kept burning bright by his movies, people’s memories, and the vast range of John Wayne memorabilia available to his fans.
He was actually born as Marion Robert Morrison, soon known as Marion Mitchell Morrison. Born in Iowa, his family then moved to California where he grew up. He played football for Glendale High School, and later played at a higher level at the University of Southern California under Howard Jones while studying.
Unfortunately, he suffered an injury while surfing at Newport Beach and was not able to continue playing football. As a consequence he lost his athletic scholarship, and had to leave the university due to a lack of funds. It was then he began working in the local film studios which would start his acting career.
John started working in the prop department, but soon began to do a couple of speaking lines in films. It was at this time when he earned the screen name John Wayne; he was not even present when this was decided as his agent sorted this out on his behalf.
John Wayne mainly played parts in low budget films, until he was fortunate enough to receive stunt training in the’33 cowboy film Riders of Destiny. This got him a role in Stagecoach which gave him the exposure and credibility he needed to truly break into acting.
American values were of great importance to John Wayne, and as such he only accepted roles which he believed reflected these. Despite never enlisting in the Second World War, John became heavily associated with the US military after playing war heroes in several of his movies.
John Wayne’s long and full life came to an end in’79 after a struggle with stomach cancer. In his lifetime he had four wives, seven children, as well as multiple affairs. His belief in American values was reflected not only in the films he made but also in his political interests, and it is these passions which make John Wayne so memorable today.
Ross Tilley is a freelance writer with a passion for film collectibles, such as John Wayne memorabilia.
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