John Wayne: Life, Career & Legacy. John Wayne, born Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, is one of the most iconic film stars in history. Nicknamed “Duke” after the family’s dog, he preferred that name throughout his life. His family moved to Glendale, California, where he excelled in school and sports, earning a football scholarship to USC.
However, a bodysurfing accident ended his football career, pushing him toward Hollywood. Starting as a prop man and extra, he worked his way up, learning filmmaking from legends like John Ford. His big break came in The Big Trail (1930), where he adopted the stage name “John Wayne.” His career soared with classics like Stagecoach, Rio Bravo, The Quiet Man, and True Grit.Wayne saw “John Wayne” as a character, insisting he was still Duke Morrison off-screen. He married three times…
