| Known as "The Duke", John Wayne made his
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| | brought him to the forefront as a true
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| first appearance in this world on May 26,
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| | "star". He never forgot his roots in the
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| 1907. His parents, Clyde Leonard and
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| | industry, though. From 1928 - when John
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| Mary Alberta Brown Morrison, named their
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| | Ford gave him his first bit part - until
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| first-born child Marion Robert. When his
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| | 1963, he appeared in over 20 of Mr.
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| younger brother was born in 1911, his
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| | Ford's films, usually for much less that
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| parents decided to name him Robert.
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| | the going rate at the time. These
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| Thus, they changed Marion's middle name
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| | included such classics as "Stagecoach",
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| to Michael.The Morrison family moved to
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| | "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (1949) and
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| the Mojave Desert in southern California
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| | "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"
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| in 1911, after Clyde was diagnosed with a
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| | (1962). The last film listed there also
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| lung condition. Although the
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| | starred another well - known and
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| pharmacist-by-trade fancied himself a
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| | established actor, James "Jimmy"
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| rancher, he was a poor manager and the
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| | Stewart.The Duke's career spanned almost
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| family ranch failed. They moved to
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| | 250 films and five decades. He also did
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| Glendale, California shortly thereafter.
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| | a radio serial program, from 1942 to
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| Still, the family was never well-to-do by
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| | 1943, called "The Three Sheets to the
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| any stretch of one's imagination. Marion
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| | Wind". He became involved in film
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| and Robert grew up poor, but proud.Marion
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| | industry politics in 1944 when he helped
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| delivered medicines for his father and
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| | to organize and charter the Motion
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| newspapers, to supplement the family's
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| | Picture Alliance for the Preservation of
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| income. He was frequently accompanied by
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| | American Ideals (MPAPAI). This was a
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| his dog, Duke. Because they were
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| | right - wing political organization and
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| basically inseparable, his neighbors in
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| | Mr. Wayne eventually became its
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| Glendale began referring to them as
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| | President for two terms. He quickly
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| "Little Duke" and "Big Duke". Marion
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| | became known as an ultra - conservative.
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| liked the name Duke so much better than
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| | This was strongly affirmed in 1960 when
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| his given name that he adopted it as his
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| | he produced, directed and starred in the
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| nickname. It stayed with him for the
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| | epic film "The Alamo". And his
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| rest of his life. He joked throughout
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| | patriotism was even more profoundly
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| his life that he was named after a
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| | evident with another epic in which he co
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| dog.Marion quickly developed a reputation
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| | - directed and starred, "The Green
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| as a hard worker and he excelled
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| | Berets" (1968), the only film during that
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| academically, as well as being a star
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| | time which positively portrayed the
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| player on his Glendale High School
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| | Vietnamese Conflict.Quite possibly one of
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| football team. When he graduated from
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| | his best known characters, for which he
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| high school, he applied to the U.S. Naval
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| | won the "Best Actor" Oscar (Academy
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| Academy. While he was almost accepted
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| | Award) in 1969, was "Rooster Cogburn" - a
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| there, his bid ultimately failed.
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| | crusty, grouchy, one-eyed, aging lawman -
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| However the University of Southern
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| | in "True Grit". There are those who say
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| California at Los Angeles recruited him
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| | that the award was given in recognition
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| on a football scholarship. His budding
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| | of his forty years as an actor, rather
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| career as a professional athlete was cut
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| | than his actual performance in the film.
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| short following a swimming accident at a
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| | Nontheless, this role was the embodiment
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| local beach. He lost his scholarship and
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| | of the real person behind the role and
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| had to leave USC because he lacked the
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| | not to be denied as a fine blending of
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| funds to continue his education
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| | Mr. Wayne and the character.John Wayne
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| there.During his time at college, he had
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| | remained a lifelong friend to John Ford
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| been working around the local film
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| | and they made numerous voyages together
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| studios in L.A. Tom Mix, a famous
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| | in Ford's yacht along with actor Ward
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| Western film star at that time, got him a
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| | Bond. Apparently, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Bond
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| summer job at a props department in
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| | were drinking buddies and loved to play
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| exchange for USC Trojan football tickets.
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| | practical jokes on one another. One log
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| Marion quickly made friends with the
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| | entry made by Mr. Ford noted, in polite
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| legendary director John Ford and started
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| | terms, that the "First Mate" (Wayne) had
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| doing bit parts in films for him in 1928.
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| | used Mr. Bond's whiskey flask to relieve
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| In a film called "Maker of Men", he was
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| | his bladder. While it was not revealed
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| one of the featured football players and
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| | as to whether or not Mr. Bond was
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| was billed as Marion Morrison. He went
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| | enlightened to this fact, Mr. Ford
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| on to do bit parts in about 70 films,
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| | obviously appreciated the gesture enough
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| none of which were particularly notable.
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| | to make a note to himself to give John
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| During those films he was billed by
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| | Wayne a raise.Mr. Wayne's sense of humor
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| different screen names including Marion
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| | was brought to public attention more
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| Duke, Duke Morrison and a couple of
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| | blatantly when he agreed to appear on
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| others.He continued to work as a prop man
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| | "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In", on
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| until his first starring role in a 1930s
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| | national television, dressed in a pink
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| film called "The Big Trail". The
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| | bunny suit. He could laugh at himself
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| director of that film gave him his stage
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| | yet come across confident and secure in
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| name, Anthony Wayne, named for the famous
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| | his acting roles and as a champion of
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| general, "Mad" Anthony Wayne. However,
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| | worthwhile causes and endeavors. He
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| the studio did not particularly like the
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| | embodied true patriotism and belief in
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| connotations connected with that name and
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| | America and the sense of values which he
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| changed his first name to John. The
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| | felt her citizens should be proud to
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| newly named John Wayne went from making
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| | embrace and accept as normal. He scoffed
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| $35 weekly to an astounding $75 weekly!
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| | that there were those who called him a
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| Quite an accomplishment for that day and
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| | "superpatriot" for what he considered to
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| age. And a huge amount of money to
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| | be the way that all Americans should live
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| someone who grew up poor.The first movie
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| | and present themselves to the rest of the
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| in which he had a starring role was a
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| | world. Just imagine what his thoughts
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| flop. But, he began establishing his
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| | would have been when 9/11 occurred!...to
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| credentials and reputation as an actor
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| | be continued. Look for Part 2 - John
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| from that point forward. His appearance
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| | Wayne - "The Duke".
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| in the epic Western "Stagecoach" in 1939
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