John Wayne
Biography
Marion Robert Morrison, professionally known as John Wayne, was an American actor and filmmaker. Born in Winterset, Iowa, on May 26, 1907, he grew up in Southern California. Wayne attended Glendale High School, graduating in 1925. He initially worked in small bit parts at the Fox Film Corporation. His first leading role was in Raoul Walsh's The Big Trail. Wayne's career spanned multiple decades, and he was among the top box office draws for a significant period. He is known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke.
Career overview
John Wayne began his acting career after finding work at local film studios in Southern California. He initially worked for the Fox Film Corporation, appearing mostly in small bit parts. His first leading role came in Raoul Walsh's The Big Trail.
Wayne's career spanned multiple decades, during which he became one of the top box office draws. He eventually transitioned to leading roles, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the film industry.
Wayne's acting credits total 312, although specific details about his individual performances are not provided.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Dead Man's Wire (2026) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Proust Palimpsesto: Pastiches e Misturas (2026) as Ethan Edwards (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Spiritual day in Minneapolis (2026)
- Elway (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Naughty America: Guns & Stripes (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Atomic People (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Remembering Gene Wilder (2024) as Self (archive photo)
- The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons (2023) as Self (Archive Footage)
- Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- John Ford and Throwing (2022)
- John Ford: The Man Who Invented America (2019) as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
- Gérard Blain : adultes, je vous hais (2019) as Self (archive)
- John Wayne - America at All Costs (2019) as Himself (archive footage)
- The Fabulous Allan Carr (2017) as Self (archive)
- John Wayne on Film (2016) as Himself
- Talking Pictures (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- John Ford & Monument Valley (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Dictator: One Crazy Job (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Christmas Around the World with Perry Como (2012) as Self
- Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010) as Self (archive footage)
- Nuke 'Em, Duke (2010) as Self (archive footage)
- 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Battleground (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Edith Head: The Paramount Years (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- The Duke at Fox (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- The Shootist: The Legend Lives On (2001)
- John Wayne-A Life on Film (2000) as Himself
- Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) as Self (archive footage)
- The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1998) as Self - Roaster (archive footage)
- JOHN WAYNE - AMERICAN LEGEND (1998) as Himself
- The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- La Classe américaine (1993) as George Abitbol (archive footage)
- Young Duke: Making Of A Movie Star (1993) as Himself
- The Making of 'Rio Grande' (1993) as Self (archive footage)
- The John Wayne Story: The Early Years (1993)
- The John Wayne Story - The Later Years (1993) as Himself
- John Wayne's 'The Alamo' (1992) as Davy Crockett
- Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- Movie Tough Guys (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- John Wayne - Eine amerikanische Legende (1991) as (archive footage)
- John Wayne: American Hero Of The Movies (1990)
- Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Sacrée soirée (1987) as Self (archive footage)
- Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as (archive footage)
- Showbiz Goes to War (1982) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood (1980) as Self
- Western von gestern (1978) as John Wyatt aka John Allen (archive footage)
- Western von gestern (1978) as John Wyatt aka John Allen
- Western von gestern (1978) as Stony Brooke (archive footage)
- Perry Como's Early American Christmas (1978) as Self
- Johnny, weil Du Geburtstag hast (1977) as Self
- That's Action (1977) as self
- This Little Bullet (1977) as Host
- The Shootist (1976) as J.B. Books
- It's Showtime (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- Hooray for Hollywood (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years (1976) as Self
- Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special (1976)
- Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (1976) as Jerry Mason
- Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend (1976) as Himself/Narrator
- Rooster Cogburn (1975) as Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn
- Brannigan (1975) as Lt. Jim Brannigan
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
- Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television (1975) as (archive footage)
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self (archive footage)
- McQ (1974) as McQ
- McQ (1974) Executive Producer
- Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still (1974) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) as Self
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- Cahill: United States Marshal (1973) as J.D. Cahill
- The Train Robbers (1973) as Lane
- The Train Robbers (1973) Executive Producer
- The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks (1973) as Self (archive footage)
- The Man Behind the Star (1973) as Self
- Wayne Train (1973) as Self
- Maude (1972) as Himself
- The Cowboys (1972) as Wil Andersen
- Cancel My Reservation (1972) as Himself (uncredited)
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self
- Directed by John Ford (1971) as Self (1969)
- Big Jake (1971) as Jacob McCandles
- Big Jake (1971) Executive Producer
- The American West of John Ford (1971) as Self - Narrator
- The Selling of the Pentagon (1971) as Self (archive footage)
- Chisum (1970) as John Chisum
- Rio Lobo (1970) as Col. Cord McNally
- Raquel! (1970) as Self
- Swing Out, Sweet Land (1970) as Self - Host
- No Substitute for Victory (1970) as Sekf
- Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo (1970) as Self
- True Grit (1969) as Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn
- The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969) as Self
- The Undefeated (1969) as Colonel John Henry Thomas
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage)
- Hellfighters (1968) as Chance Buckman
- The Green Berets (1968) as Colonel Mike Kirby
- The Green Berets (1968) Director
- The War Wagon (1967) as Taw Jackson
- The War Wagon (1967) Executive Producer
- Dateline: Hollywood (1967)
- A Nation Builds Under Fire (1967) as Narrator
- El Dorado (1966) as Cole Thornton
- Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) as Gen. Mike Randolph
- The Victory Squad (1966) as Self - Host
- In Harm's Way (1965) as Capt. Rockwell Torrey
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) as Centurion at crucifixion
- The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) as John Elder
- The Making of A Movie (1965) as Himself
- Choice (1964) as Host
- Circus World (1964) as Matt Masters
- McLintock! (1963) as George Washington McLintock
- Donovan's Reef (1963) as Michael "Guns" Donovan
- Hollywood and the Stars (1963) as Self (archive footage)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) as John Wayne (uncredited)
- The Lucy Show (1962) as John Wayne
- The Longest Day (1962) as Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Tom Doniphon
- How the West Was Won (1962) as William Sherman
- Hatari! (1962) as Sean Mercer
- Flashing Spikes (1962) as Marine Sergeant
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self (archive footage)
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Alcoa Premiere (1961)
- The Comancheros (1961) as Jake Cutter
- The 10 from Texas (1961) as (archive footage)
- The Challenge of Ideas (1961) as Self
- The Alamo (1960) as Col. Davy Crockett
- The Alamo (1960) Director
- The Alamo (1960) Producer
- North to Alaska (1960) as Sam McCord
- The Colter Craven Story (1960)
- Rio Bravo (1959) as Sheriff John T. Chance
- The Horse Soldiers (1959) as Col John Marlowe
- The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958) as Townsend Harris
- I Married a Woman (1958) as Actor in a Movie (uncredited)
- The Western: A Lost TV Special (1958) as Self
- Wagon Train (1957) as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- The Wings of Eagles (1957) as Frank W. 'Spig' Wead
- Legend of the Lost (1957) as Joe January
- Jet Pilot (1957) as Col. Jim Shannon
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- The Searchers (1956) as Ethan Edwards
- 7 Men from Now (1956) Producer
- The Conqueror (1956) as Temujin
- Good-bye, My Lady (1956) Producer
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Self - Host, Introduction to the Series
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) as Mike Cronin
- The Sea Chase (1955) as Captain Karl Ehrlich
- Blood Alley (1955) as Capt. Tom Wilder
- Blood Alley (1955) Producer
- Casablanca (1955)
- Producers' Showcase (1954) as Self
- The High and the Mighty (1954) as Dan Roman
- The High and the Mighty (1954) Producer
- Track of the Cat (1954) Producer
- Ring of Fear (1954) Producer
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Hondo (1953) as Hondo Lane
- Hondo (1953) Producer
- Trouble Along the Way (1953) as Stephen Aloysius Williams
- Island in the Sky (1953) as Captain Dooley
- Island in the Sky (1953) Producer
- You're the Star (1953) as Self
- Three Lives (1953) as Self
- The Quiet Man (1952) as Sean Thornton
- Big Jim McLain (1952) as Jim McLain
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as John Wayne
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Self (uncredited)
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Rooster Cogburn
- I Love Lucy (1951) as John Wayne
- Flying Leathernecks (1951) as Maj. Daniel Xavier Kirby
- Operation Pacific (1951) as Duke E. Gifford
- The Screen Director (1951) as Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited)
- Bullfighter and the Lady (1951) Producer
- Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen (1951) Producer
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self - Cameo
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- The Jack Benny Program (1950) as John Wayne
- Rio Grande (1950) as Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke
- Sands of Iwo Jima (1950) as Sgt. John M. Stryker
- The Dangerous Stranger (1950) Producer
- She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) as Capt. Nathan Cutting Brittles
- The Fighting Kentuckian (1949) as John Breen
- The Fighting Kentuckian (1949) Producer
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- 3 Godfathers (1948) as Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower
- Red River (1948) as Thomas Dunson
- Fort Apache (1948) as Capt. Kirby York
- Wake of the Red Witch (1948) as Capt. Ralls
- Angel and the Badman (1947) as Quirt Evans
- Angel and the Badman (1947) Producer
- Tycoon (1947) as Johnny Munroe
- Without Reservations (1946) as Rusty Thomas
- Desert Command (1946) as Tom Wayne
- They Were Expendable (1945) as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
- Back to Bataan (1945) as Colonel Joseph Madden
- Flame of Barbary Coast (1945) as Duke Fergus
- Dakota (1945) as John Devlin
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- The Fighting Seabees (1944) as Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan
- Tall in the Saddle (1944) as Rocklin
- Memo for Joe (1944) as Self
- In Old Oklahoma (1943) as Daniel F Somers
- A Lady Takes a Chance (1943) as Duke Hudkins
- Reap the Wild Wind (1942) as Captain Jack Stuart
- The Spoilers (1942) as Glennister
- Flying Tigers (1942) as Jim Gordon
- In Old California (1942) as Tom Craig
- Reunion in France (1942) as Pat Talbot
- Lady for a Night (1942) as Jackson Morgan
- Pittsburgh (1942) as Charles 'Pittsburgh' Markham
- The Shepherd of the Hills (1941) as Young Matt Matthews
- A Man Betrayed (1941) as Lynn Hollister
- Lady from Louisiana (1941) as John Reynolds
- The Long Voyage Home (1940) as Ole Olsen
- Dark Command (1940) as Bob Seton
- Seven Sinners (1940) as Dan
- Three Faces West (1940) as John Phillips
- Stagecoach (1939) as The Ringo Kid
- The Night Riders (1939) as Stony Brooke
- New Frontier (1939) as Stony Brooke
- Allegheny Uprising (1939) as Jim Smith
- Wyoming Outlaw (1939) as Stony Brooke
- Three Texas Steers (1939) as Stony Brooke
- Overland Stage Raiders (1938) as Stony Brooke
- Red River Range (1938) as Stony Brooke
- Santa Fe Stampede (1938) as Stony Brooke
- Pals of the Saddle (1938) as Stony Brooke
- Hell Town (1937) as Dare Rudd
- Born to the West (1937) as Dare Rudd
- Idol of the Crowds (1937) as Johnny Hanson
- Adventure's End (1937) as Duke Slade
- I Cover the War! (1937) as Bob Adams
- California Straight Ahead (1937) as Biff Smith
- The Lawless Nineties (1936) as John Tipton
- Winds of the Wasteland (1936) as John Blair
- The Lonely Trail (1936) as Captain John Ashley
- King of the Pecos (1936) as John Clayborn
- The Oregon Trail (1936) as Capt John Delmont
- Sea Spoilers (1936) as Bob Randall
- The Stagecoach Race (1936) as John Blair
- Conflict (1936) as Pat Glendon
- Avenging Angel (1935) as John Mason
- Guns Along The Trail (1935) as John Wyatt
- Westward Ho (1935) as John Wyatt
- The Desert Trail (1935) as John Scott / John Jones
- Lawless Range (1935) as John Middleton
- The New Frontier (1935) as John Dawson
- The Dawn Rider (1935) as John Mason
- Rainbow Valley (1935) as John Martin
- Texas Terror (1935) as John Higgins
- Paradise Canyon (1935) as John Wyatt
- On the Run (1935) as John Jones
- Cowboy G-Man (1935) as John Wyatt
- The Trail Beyond (1934) as Rod Drew
- Rodeo Rocketeers (1934) as John Weston
- Next Of Kin (1934) as Ted Hayden aka Gat Ganns
- The Shadow Gang (1934) as U.S. Marshal John Travers
- 'Neath the Arizona Skies (1934) as Chris Morrell
- West of the Divide (1934) as Ted Hayden aka Gat Ganns
- Blue Steel (1934) as John Carruthers
- The Star Packer (1934) as U.S. Marshal John Travers
- The Lawless Frontier (1934) as John Tobin
- Claim Jumpers (1934) as Jerry Mason
- The Man from Utah (1934) as John Weston
- The Lucky Texan (1934) as Jerry Mason
- The Drifter (1934) as Randy
- Bandits of the Badlands (1934) as John Carruthers
- Randy Rides Alone (1934) as Randy Bowers
- Klondike Gold (1934) as Rod Drew
- Vengence is Mine (1934) as John Tobin
- Baby Face (1933) as Jimmy McCoy Jr.
- Sagebrush Trail (1933) as John Brant
- Central Airport (1933)
- The Three Musketeers (1933) as Lt. Tom Wayne
- The Life of Jimmy Dolan (1933) as Smith
- Fugitive (1933) as John
- Riders of Destiny (1933) as Singin' Sandy Saunders
- Somewhere in Sonora (1933) as John Bishop
- The Man from Monterey (1933) as John Holmes
- The Telegraph Trail (1933) as John Trent
- College Coach (1933) as Football player (uncredited)
- His Private Secretary (1933) as Dick Wallace
- The Big Stampede (1932) as Deputy Sheriff John Steele
- Ride Him, Cowboy (1932) as John Drury
- Haunted Gold (1932) as John Mason
- Texas Cyclone (1932) as Steve Pickett
- The Hurricane Express (1932) as The Air Pilot
- Two-Fisted Law (1932) as Duke
- The Shadow of the Eagle (1932) as Craig McCoy
- Lady and Gent (1932) as Buzz Kinney
- Running Hollywood (1932) as Emcee
- The Hollywood Handicap (1932)
- Three Girls Lost (1931) as Gordon Wales
- Girls Demand Excitement (1931) as Peter Brooks
- The Range Feud (1931) as Clint Turner
- Arizona (1931) as Lt. Bob Denton
- Maker of Men (1931) as Dusty Rhodes
- The Deceiver (1931) as Reginald Thorpe as a corpse
- The Big Trail (1930) as Breck Coleman
- Men Without Women (1930) as Radioman on Surface (uncredited)
- Born Reckless (1930) as Extra (uncredited)
- Cheer Up and Smile (1930)
- Rough Romance (1930) as Lumberjack (uncredited)
- Rough Romance (1930) Props
- Words and Music (1929) as Pete Donahue (as Duke Morrison)
- Salute (1929)
- The Black Watch (1929) as Black Watch Soldier (uncredited)
- Speakeasy (1929) as Extra
- Noah's Ark (1928) as Flood Extra (uncredited)
- Four Sons (1928)
- Four Sons (1928) Property Master
- Hangman's House (1928) as Horse Race Spectator / Condemned Man in Flashback
- A Home Made Man (1928) as Man on Stool
- Mother Machree (1927)
- Mother Machree (1927) Property Master
- Annie Laurie (1927)
- The Drop Kick (1927) as Football Player / Extra in Stands
- The Draw-Back (1927) as Opposing Football Player
- The Great K&A Train Robbery (1926) as Extra (uncredited)
- Brown of Harvard (1926) as Yale LIneback Player
- Bardelys the Magnificent (1926) as Guard (uncredited)
- Desert Command as Tom Wayne
- Rodeo Racketeers