Marion Robert Morrison, known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed “Duke”, he became a popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood's Golden Age, especially in Western and war movies. His career flourished from the silent film era of the 1920s through the American New Wave, as he appeared in a total of 179 film and television productions. He was among the top box-office draws for three decades and appeared with many important Hollywood stars of his era. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Wayne as one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema.

Born:

May 26, 1907

Winterset, Iowa, U.S.

Died:

June 11, 1979 (aged 72)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.