Marion Robert Morrison, better known as John Wayne, was an actor. He was known for his lingo and his passion of acting. Movies you might have seen him in are as followed: True Grit, The Alamo, El Dorado, and many others. He was born in Winterset, Iowa during the 1900's. His mother was from Lancaster Country, Nebraska and his father was the son of the Civil War Hero veteran Marion Mitchell Morrison

Growing up, a local fireman gave him the nickname Little Duke, because Wayne wouldn't go anywhere without his dog who was named Duke and the name stuck!

Wayne applied for the US Naval Academy, but was not accepted due to poor grades, so he went to the University of Southern California, majoring in pre-law. Wayne excelled in everything sport like, but a broken collarbone flushed his hopes and dreams..down the drain.

As a favor to a coach, John Ford hired John Wayne as an extra and prop boy in a move. Wayne credited his walk,talk and persona to the friendship of Wyatt Earp

His first role was minor in the movie Bardelys the Magnificent.He also appeared in some movies playing football with friends.

He only used the name "Duke Morrison" once on screen. Then the Director Raoul Walsh suggested "Anthony Wayne" after Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. But the Fox Studios chief, Winfield Sheehan rejected the idea, he said it sounded "too Italian." Then the name John Wayne was born.

The Big Trail was the first movie he was in and it grossed only 1 million dollars which was low. The film was considered a failure.

The year was 1964, and Wayne was diagnosed with lung cancer.But he quickly overcame it and was free for 5 years...till it came back in the form of stomach cancer in January of 1979 , He lost the battle and succumbed to the disease on June 11, 1979. On his headstone it is quoted "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." His grave was unmarked for 20 years. But then in 1999 it was finally marked. The great cowboy finally hit the grave..and we will all remember him