Subscribe

Is John Wayne Living or Dead?

Living or Dead? Celebrities, films, tv shows, birthdays, deaths ... your one-stop shop to satisfy your morbid curiosity.

Is American film actor John Wayne dead? Or ... still alive?

Subscribe to Living or Dead news !!!

Celebrity death and birthday updates to your inbox!

Unsub at any time. We'll never sell your details.

John Wayne
Share:

American film actor

John Wayne is ...

Dead

Born 26 May 1907 in Winterset
Died 11 June 1979 in Los Angeles
Age 72 years, 1 months
Cause stomach cancer

Sex or gender male
Country of citizenship United States of America
Birth name Marion Robert Morrison
Manner of death natural causes
Spouse Esperanza Baur, Pilar Pallete and Josephine Wayne
Child Patrick Wayne, Michael Wayne and Ethan Wayne
Occupation actor, film actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter and American football player
Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor, Academy Award for Best Actor and Academy Award for Best Picture
Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom, Academy Award for Best Actor, Congressional Gold Medal and California Hall of Fame
Member of sports team USC Trojans football

About John Wayne

John Wayne was the quintessential American hero, a larger-than-life figure who embodied the rugged individualism and frontier spirit of the nation. Born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, he grew up in Southern California and developed a love of horses and the outdoors. After playing football at USC, he found work as a prop man and extra in Hollywood, and soon caught the eye of director John Ford, who cast him in his breakthrough role in "Stagecoach" (1939).

Over the next four decades, Wayne became one of the most iconic and beloved actors in American cinema, starring in over 170 films and winning an Academy Award for his role in "True Grit" (1969). He was known for his rugged good looks, his distinctive drawl, and his unwavering sense of honor and duty, which he brought to such classic films as "The Searchers" (1956), "Rio Bravo" (1959), and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962).

Offscreen, Wayne was a staunch conservative and a vocal supporter of the Vietnam War, which earned him both admiration and criticism. He was also a heavy smoker and drinker, and died of cancer in 1979 at the age of 72.

Despite his flaws, John Wayne remains an enduring symbol of American masculinity and heroism, a larger-than-life figure who embodied the best and worst of his country. As he once said, "I'm the stuff men are made of."

References:

- "John Wayne: The Life and Legend" by Scott Eyman

- "John Wayne: American" by Randy Roberts and James S. Olson

- "The Duke: A Life in Pictures" by John Wayne Enterprises

- "John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth" by Michael Munn

About Death

Although he enrolled in a cancer vaccine study in an attempt to ward off the disease, Wayne died of stomach cancer at the age of 72 on June 11, 1979, at the UCLA Medical Center, and was buried in the Pacific View Memorial Park cemetery in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach. According to his son Patrick and his grandson Matthew Muñoz, a priest in the California Diocese of Orange, he converted to Roman Catholicism shortly before his death. He requested that his tombstone read "Feo, Fuerte y Formal", a Spanish epitaph Wayne described as meaning "ugly, strong, and dignified". The grave, which went unmarked for 20 years, is now marked with a quotation from his controversial 1971 Playboy interview: "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."

Films - which cast members have died?

John Wayne has been a part of these films.

Click to see which cast and crew are living and dead!

1962 war film The Longest Day

The Longest Day

1962 war film

1956 film by John Ford The Searchers

The Searchers

1956 film by John Ford

1954 film by William A. Wellman The High and the Mighty

The High and the Mighty

1954 film by William A. Wellman

1960 American historical epic film The Alamo

The Alamo

1960 American historical epic film

1952 film by John Ford The Quiet Man

The Quiet Man

1952 film by John Ford

1969 American western film True Grit

True Grit

1969 American western film

1962 film by John Ford, Richard Thorpe, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall How the West Was Won

How the West Was Won

1962 film by John Ford, Richard Thorpe, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall

1968 film by John Wayne, Mervyn LeRoy, Ray Kellogg The Green Berets

The Green Berets

1968 film by John Wayne, Mervyn LeRoy, Ray Kellogg

1939 film by John Ford Stagecoach

Stagecoach

1939 film by John Ford

American Western film directed by Howard Hawks Rio Bravo

Rio Bravo

American Western film directed by Howard Hawks

1962 film by John Ford The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

1962 film by John Ford

1965 film by Henry Hathaway The Sons of Katie Elder

The Sons of Katie Elder

1965 film by Henry Hathaway

1965 film by George Stevens, David Lean The Greatest Story Ever Told

The Greatest Story Ever Told

1965 film by George Stevens, David Lean

1954 film by John Farrow Hondo

Hondo

1954 film by John Farrow

1965 film by Otto Preminger In Harm's Way

In Harm's Way

1965 film by Otto Preminger

1976 film by Don Siegel The Shootist

The Shootist

1976 film by Don Siegel

1966 film by Howard Hawks El Dorado

El Dorado

1966 film by Howard Hawks

1948 Western film Red River

Red River

1948 Western film

1942 black-and-white war film, starring John Wayne and John Carroll as pilots in the mercenary fighter group fighting the Japanese in China prior to the U.S. entry into World War II Flying Tigers

Flying Tigers

1942 black-and-white war film, starring John Wayne and John Carroll as pilots in the mercenary fighter group fighting the Japanese in China prior to the U.S. entry into World War II

1944 film by Edwin L. Marin Tall in the Saddle

Tall in the Saddle

1944 film by Edwin L. Marin

1962 film by Howard Hawks Hatari!

Hatari!

1962 film by Howard Hawks

1963 film by Andrew V. McLaglen, James Edward Grant, Maureen O'Hara, John Wayne, Yvonne De Carlo, Patrick Wayne McLintock!

McLintock!

1963 film by Andrew V. McLaglen, James Edward Grant, Maureen O'Hara, John Wayne, Yvonne De Carlo, Patrick Wayne

1933 film by Alfred E. Green Baby Face

Baby Face

1933 film by Alfred E. Green

1950 film by John Ford She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

1950 film by John Ford

1930 film by Raoul Walsh The Big Trail

The Big Trail

1930 film by Raoul Walsh

1940 film by John Ford The Long Voyage Home

The Long Voyage Home

1940 film by John Ford

1956 film by Dick Powell The Conqueror

The Conqueror

1956 film by Dick Powell

1964 film by Henry Hathaway Circus World

Circus World

1964 film by Henry Hathaway

1950 film by Allan Dwan Sands of Iwo Jima

Sands of Iwo Jima

1950 film by Allan Dwan

1970 Western film Chisum

Chisum

1970 Western film

1975 American western film Rooster Cogburn

Rooster Cogburn

1975 American western film

1970 film by Howard Hawks Rio Lobo

Rio Lobo

1970 film by Howard Hawks

1950 film by John Ford Rio Grande

Rio Grande

1950 film by John Ford

1947 film by James Edward Grant Angel and the Badman

Angel and the Badman

1947 film by James Edward Grant

1955 film by John Farrow The Sea Chase

The Sea Chase

1955 film by John Farrow

1960 film by Henry Hathaway, John Wayne North to Alaska

North to Alaska

1960 film by Henry Hathaway, John Wayne

1953 film by William A. Wellman Island in the Sky

Island in the Sky

1953 film by William A. Wellman

1945 film by Edward Dmytryk Back to Bataan

Back to Bataan

1945 film by Edward Dmytryk

1972 film The Cowboys

The Cowboys

1972 film

1957 film by Josef von Sternberg Jet Pilot

Jet Pilot

1957 film by Josef von Sternberg

1951 film by Nicholas Ray Flying Leathernecks

Flying Leathernecks

1951 film by Nicholas Ray

1948 film by John Ford Fort Apache

Fort Apache

1948 film by John Ford

1945 film by John Ford, Robert Montgomery They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable

1945 film by John Ford, Robert Montgomery

serialized story by Thelma Strabel Reap the Wild Wind

Reap the Wild Wind

serialized story by Thelma Strabel

1928 film Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark

1928 film

1963 film by John Ford Donovan's Reef

Donovan's Reef

1963 film by John Ford

1975 film by Douglas Hickox Brannigan

Brannigan

1975 film by Douglas Hickox

1974 film by John Sturges McQ

McQ

1974 film by John Sturges

1959 film by John Ford The Horse Soldiers

The Horse Soldiers

1959 film by John Ford

1969 film by Andrew V. McLaglen, John Wayne The Undefeated

The Undefeated

1969 film by Andrew V. McLaglen, John Wayne

1968 film by Andrew V. McLaglen Hellfighters

Hellfighters

1968 film by Andrew V. McLaglen

1955 seafaring adventure movie Blood Alley

Blood Alley

1955 seafaring adventure movie

1971 Western film Big Jake

Big Jake

1971 Western film

1948 film by Edward Ludwig Wake of the Red Witch

Wake of the Red Witch

1948 film by Edward Ludwig

1958 film by John Huston The Barbarian and the Geisha

The Barbarian and the Geisha

1958 film by John Huston

1961 film by Michael Curtiz The Comancheros

The Comancheros

1961 film by Michael Curtiz

1957 film by John Ford The Wings of Eagles

The Wings of Eagles

1957 film by John Ford

1966 film by Melville Shavelson Cast a Giant Shadow

Cast a Giant Shadow

1966 film by Melville Shavelson

1942 film Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

1942 film

1951 film by George Waggner Operation Pacific

Operation Pacific

1951 film by George Waggner

1935 western film starring John Wayne Rainbow Valley

Rainbow Valley

1935 western film starring John Wayne

1933 serial The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

1933 serial

1948 film by John Ford 3 Godfathers

3 Godfathers

1948 film by John Ford

1942 film by Rex Beach, Ray Enright The Spoilers

The Spoilers

1942 film by Rex Beach, Ray Enright

1939 film by William A. Seiter Allegheny Uprising

Allegheny Uprising

1939 film by William A. Seiter

1928 film by John Ford Hangman's House

Hangman's House

1928 film by John Ford

1926 film by King Vidor Bardelys the Magnificent

Bardelys the Magnificent

1926 film by King Vidor

1944 film by Edward Ludwig The Fighting Seabees

The Fighting Seabees

1944 film by Edward Ludwig

1952 film by Edward Ludwig Big Jim McLain

Big Jim McLain

1952 film by Edward Ludwig

1967 film by Kirk Douglas, Howard Keel, Bruce Dern, Robert Walker, Jr., Bruce Cabot, Burt Kennedy, John Wayne, Keenan Wynn, Gene Evans, Clair Huffaker, Joanna Barnes The War Wagon

The War Wagon

1967 film by Kirk Douglas, Howard Keel, Bruce Dern, Robert Walker, Jr., Bruce Cabot, Burt Kennedy, John Wayne, Keenan Wynn, Gene Evans, Clair Huffaker, Joanna Barnes

1942 feature film Reunion in France

Reunion in France

1942 feature film

1950 film by George Waggner The Fighting Kentuckian

The Fighting Kentuckian

1950 film by George Waggner

1953 film by Michael Curtiz Trouble Along the Way

Trouble Along the Way

1953 film by Michael Curtiz

1940 film by Raoul Walsh Dark Command

Dark Command

1940 film by Raoul Walsh

1933 film by William A. Wellman College Coach

College Coach

1933 film by William A. Wellman

1973 film by Burt Kennedy The Train Robbers

The Train Robbers

1973 film by Burt Kennedy

1973 film by Andrew V. McLaglen Cahill U.S. Marshal

Cahill U.S. Marshal

1973 film by Andrew V. McLaglen

1957 film by Henry Hathaway Legend of the Lost

Legend of the Lost

1957 film by Henry Hathaway

1932 film by Ford Beebe, B. Reeves Eason The Shadow of the Eagle

The Shadow of the Eagle

1932 film by Ford Beebe, B. Reeves Eason

1945 film by John Wayne, Joseph Kane, Joseph Schildkraut, Ann Dvorak, Borden Chase, William Frawley Flame of Barbary Coast

Flame of Barbary Coast

1945 film by John Wayne, Joseph Kane, Joseph Schildkraut, Ann Dvorak, Borden Chase, William Frawley

1933 western film starring John Wayne Riders of Destiny

Riders of Destiny

1933 western film starring John Wayne

1932 film by Armand Schaefer, J. P. McGowan The Hurricane Express

The Hurricane Express

1932 film by Armand Schaefer, J. P. McGowan

1946 film by Mervyn LeRoy Without Reservations

Without Reservations

1946 film by Mervyn LeRoy

1943 film by Albert S. Rogell In Old Oklahoma

In Old Oklahoma

1943 film by Albert S. Rogell

1942 American drama film Lady for a Night

Lady for a Night

1942 American drama film

1934 western film starring John Wayne Blue Steel

Blue Steel

1934 western film starring John Wayne

1943 film by William A. Seiter A Lady Takes a Chance

A Lady Takes a Chance

1943 film by William A. Seiter

1928 film by John Ford Four Sons

Four Sons

1928 film by John Ford

1937 film by Charles Barton Born to the West

Born to the West

1937 film by Charles Barton

1934 western film starring John Wayne 'Neath the Arizona Skies

'Neath the Arizona Skies

1934 western film starring John Wayne

1941 film by Henry Hathaway The Shepherd of the Hills

The Shepherd of the Hills

1941 film by Henry Hathaway

1934 western film starring John Wayne The Trail Beyond

The Trail Beyond

1934 western film starring John Wayne

1941 film by Bernard Vorhaus Lady from Louisiana

Lady from Louisiana

1941 film by Bernard Vorhaus

1934 western film starring John Wayne The Lawless Frontier

The Lawless Frontier

1934 western film starring John Wayne

1933 western film starring John Wayne Sagebrush Trail

Sagebrush Trail

1933 western film starring John Wayne

Winds of the Wasteland

Share:
Content on these pages may not be correct and should not be considered a reliable source of information.