John Wayne: News Report of His Death - June 11, 1979

Legendary actor, John Wayne, has died. He was 72 years old.
Marion Michael Morrison (born Marion Robert Morrison; May 26, 1907 - June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor, director, producer and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. He was among the top box office draws for three decades, famous for his roles in Western films.
Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa, but grew up in Southern California. He lost a football scholarship to the University of Southern California as a result of a bodysurfing accident, and began working for the Fox Film Corporation. He appeared mostly in small parts, but his first leading role came in Raoul Walsh's Western The Big Trail (1930), an early widescreen film epic which was a box-office failure. Leading roles followed in numerous B movies during the 1930s, most of them also Westerns, without becoming a major name. It was John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) that made Wayne a mainstream star, and he starred in 142 motion pictures altogether. According to one biographer, "John Wayne personified for millions the nation's frontier heritage."

[@maryhlad7501]

We miss you so much, John Wayne. You will always be my hero.

[@edwardabrams4972]

I worked for Dukes best friend in the seventies and met him many times. Chick was in charge of his funeral and had Duke buried on Chicks private family plot next to Chicks son who died in a car in 1973. Duke was a hell of an actor and a kind man and loved his family and this country very much!

[@fionadow1277]

Loved the man.

[@natrix611]

The day I was born. My grandmother wanted my mother to name me Duke. She wasn't having it.

[@bonniescott6470]

JOHN WAYNE IS MY HERO
THEY DO NOT MAKE THEM LIKE HIM ANYMORE SADLY HE IS SO MISSED 💜

[@c.rusimko5303]

Sad to see him go