10 Surprising Facts About John Wayne, the Man Behind ‘The Duke’
John Wayne died 47 years ago at the age of 72 on June 11, 1979, after a battle with cancer. He defined the American cowboy in the movies, shaping the way we see Westerns today, but even longtime fans of the Duke may be surprised by his life off the screen.
But beyond his larger-than-life screen persona, Wayne led a fascinating life filled with surprising stories, unusual hobbies, and unexpected accomplishments. Here are 10 things you may not know about the Duke.
1 He almost starred in The Dirty Dozen
Wayne was originally considered for the role of Major John Reisman in the 1967 Oscar-winning war movie, but he ultimately passed, leaving the role to Lee Marvin.
2 He made 83 films before his big break
After 14 years and more than 80 films, his career finally changed when director John Ford cast him in the 1939 hit Stagecoach.
3 John Wayne wasn’t his real name
Born Marion Robert Morrison, the actor used the name John Wayne to sound tougher and more marketable after he was discovered by director Raoul Walsh. (Another moniker he almost went by: Anthony Wayne.)
4 He Didn’t Win an Oscar Until Late in His Career
Everett Collection
After decades of iconic performances and two previous nominations, his only Oscar was for 1970’s True Grit.
5 Wayne was one of Hollywood’s first singing cowboys
He appeared in multiple musical Westerns, such as Riders of Destiny, as “Singin’ Sandy Saunders,” though his voice was later dubbed, meaning audiences never actually had the chance to hear him sing.
6 The Alamo nearly bankrupted him
Wayne spent over a decade trying to get a film version of The Alamo made before directing and starring in it himself, as well as personally helping fund the production.
7 He has a vital place in rock ‘n’ roll history
In 1956, Buddy Holly saw the Wayne film The Searchers. In the movie, Wayne’s character, Ethan Edwards, repeats the line “That’ll be the day.” Holly used that to write his hit song of the same name.
8 Wayne loved chess
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
The actor was a big fan of the game, often bringing a chessboard with him to keep him entertained while filming.
9 He was a USC prop boy
After a football injury ended his athletic career, Wayne worked as a prop man at the University of Southern California, which helped him break into the film industry.
10 Wayne was a Grammy nominee
In 1974, the Duke was nominated in the Best Spoken Word Album category for his patriotic record America: Why I Love Her. The award went to Richard Harris for Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
This article ran in a special Cowboys issue published by TV Guide Magazine. It can be purchased at the link below.
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