John Wayne

John Wayne

           

John Wayne was born on May 26, 1907- June 11, 1979 in Winterset Iowa. As a child he moved twice once to Palmdale and then to Glendale California in 1911. He got the nickname “Duke” from local Fireman because he would go anywhere without his dog which was also named duke. As a young adult he started working in an ice cream shop. Played football for state championship team in high school, also played for USC. He got hurt while body surfing and they pulled is scholarship and because of that he had to leave the University. He then began working at the local film studio. Like others he had to work his way up the ladder to get his first role. He got his foot in the door by trading football tickets to be part of the prop department. He then went to bit roles. Then he got his shot when he took the starring role in “The Big Trial” this is that start of the John Wayne era. It was a flop but his first big budget outdoor film. His break through film was called “Stagecoach”. This would lead to about 20 more films with this producer John Ford. John Wayne was also a producer and a director as well.  People say that “The Searchers” is his best movie made because of how complex it was. He would be nominated for best director for the “The Alamo” 1 of 2 films he directed. His last film would be “The Shootist” he would die 3 years later. He was one of the best to ever take the screen. In a Harris poll released in 2009 he finished 3^rd in America’s favorite movie star of all time. He is the only person who has been on the list by making it every year since 1994.