John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907 in Winterset, Iowa.
He began his film career in the 1920s and gained fame after starring in Stagecoach (1939).
Wayne became known for his roles in iconic Westerns like Red River and The Searchers.
Wayne won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in True Grit (1969) and produced films such as The Alamo and The Green Berets.
Over his five-decade career, he appeared in more than 170 films and became a cultural icon representing traditional American values.
Wayne was known as a vocal conservative and supporter of the Republican Party.
He was exempt from active WWII service but was a prominent advocate for veterans and received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979.
Wayne struggled with lung cancer and heart disease, which contributed to his death in 1979.
Wayne passed away on June 11, 1979, but his legacy in Hollywood remains significant.
