His discovery was just as legendary; he was a student at the University of Southern California when he found work on a movie lot. Famed director John Ford saw him on the job one day and hired him to work on one of his sets. When a stuntman was unable to perform in one of the scenes, Wayne stepped in.
For years, he performed in less-than-stellar films, but then Ford cast him in Stagecoach, and the rest is history. Some of his best-known movies include the award-winning True Grit, The Quiet Man, Seven Sinners, Rio Grande, Red River, The Alamo and The Shootist. He rode off into the sunset permanently on June 11, 1979.
AddThe Longest DayWith four directors and an all-star cast, this Academy Award-winning war epic from producer Darryl F. Zanuck chronicles World War II's harrowing D-Day invasion. Shot on the beaches of Normandy, France, the ambitious film attempts to cover the historic day from all perspectives, focusing on figures... Read More
AddThe Quiet ManJohn Wayne hangs up his spurs to star as a bachelor ex-boxer in this well-loved classic. Back in his native Ireland, the Duke's thoughts turn to domestic tranquility after courting Maureen O'Hara, but her brother (Victor McLaglen) may need to have some common sense knocked into him -- literally --... Read More
AddThe CowboysJohn Wayne is Wil Andersen, an aging rancher who can't find local cowboys to run his cattle drive. His solution: Hire schoolboys, who will be forced to become men fast when they're attacked by a cattle-rustling gang (headed by Bruce Dern in full psycho mode). The most controversial of the Duke's... Read More
AddThe ShootistAn aging gunfighter (John Wayne) decides to go out with a bang after being told he's dying of cancer. In the short time he has left, the gunfighter settles some unfinished business with a gambler (Hugh O'Brian) and teaches a young friend (Ron Howard) not to follow his example. This reflective... Read More
AddThe Green BeretsGung-ho Col. Mike Kirby (John Wayne) is leading his Green Berets on a mission to kidnap an enemy general during the Vietnam War. When a skeptical reporter accompanies them, the colonel and his team outline their reasons for participating in the war. Wayne codirected this action-packed, hawkish film,... Read More
