How John Wayne Became One of Hollywood’s Greatest Cowboys

John Wayne, 1972. — David Sutton/Guide/Courtesy Everett Collection

What To Know

John Wayne rose to fame with his leading role in 1930’s The Big Trail and went on to star in over 175 films.
His performances in classics like Stagecoach, The Searchers, Rio Bravo, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance showcased his range.
Wayne’s portrayal in True Grit earned him an Oscar and solidified his legacy.

Actor Marion Morrison didn’t become “John Wayne” until his epic debut in the 1930’s The Big Trail, where the former Hollywood goose herder embodied the revenge-seeking frontier scout Breck Coleman. From there, the ultimate Western golden age cowboy lassoed our hearts throughout his lengthy career, acting in more than 175 films over 50 years, always playing rough and rugged men who lived by their own code of ethics. As the era’s quintessential cowboy hero, Wayne developed a style that could be imitated but never duplicated.

At his best, Wayne served as the Winchester-twirling Ringo kid in John Ford‘s 1939 movie Stagecoach, which made him a household name. After that, two psychologically fraught men come to mind: the bitter, self-tortured Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards in 1956’s The Searchers and larger-than-life but lonely Tom Doniphon (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, 1962). There’s also his cunning and steadfast John T. Chance from 1959’s colorful Rio Bravo.

Everett Collection

Though somehow, none of those characters hold a candle to True Grit‘s self-assured Rooster Cogburn in 1969. By that time in his career, Wayne had long ago perfected the vision of the American cowboy in the minds of movie lovers, with his distinctive rolling walk, halting speech, and leathery tough persona.

Still, he was considered to be a man whose popularity eclipsed his chops. Anyone who had previously seen The Searchers knew that wasn’t the case, but it was True Grit that finally cemented those decades of finely etched portrayals in viewers’ minds. “If I’d known [True Grit would win me an Oscar], I’d have put that patch on 35 years earlier…. Rooster Cogburn’s attitude toward life was maybe a little different, but he was basically the same character I’ve always played,” Wayne said.

Whichever way you’re looking, Wayne was the original gold standard for cowboy cinema. Got that, pilgrim?