No one knew a young man who was a nobody from a small town in Iowa, could once be an international icon. This man had strong values, and never gave up when pursuing his dreams. He did not become a star as early as most but wanted to do everything the right way. He was known for his authenticity, charm, and his roles in western movies. This man’s name was John Wayne.
Part 1: Background John Wayne's real name is Marion Robert Morrison.
In 1907, John Wayne was born in a small town called Winterset, Iowa. Shortly after the family moved to California for his dad's health issues. The family tried to ranch in the desert, but in the long run, the ranch failed. After the ranch failed, John helped deliver for local businesses, and also delivered newspapers. He was a hard working young man. John Wayne got his nickname "Duke" from his own four-legged companion named Duke. He excelled
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Producers thought he had the appearance for it. In the late 1920's John Ford noticed him being an extra in some football movies. Ford took him under his wing and taught him about the film industry. Raoul Walsh, a colleague of Ford's gave John Wayne his first starring role in 1930. He played a cowboy in the movie "The Big Trail". Around this same time, he also was given the name John Wayne to best fit the roles he was acting. The producers also thought that it would help bring in sales and be an easier name for the audience to remember. In the 1930's he spent an enormous amount time with real cowboys and stuntmen to enhance his acting. This is when John Wayne truly started to develop his on screen persona. In the 1940's and 1950's John Wayne had numerous starring roles in western movies. Later in the 1960's and 1970's he added 3 additional genres to his resume. Including; romantic comedies, police dramas, and historical dramas. He also earned three academy awards and an Oscar for his performance in "The