Connect with us

John Wayne

John Wayne’s Stage Name Inspired by His ‘Favorite American Hero,’ Director John Ford Said

John Wayne was not his real name. Wayne was born Marion Michael Morrison. Most fans of The Duke know that by now, but did you know it was Stagecoach director John Ford who named him? And did you know what his last name was based on?

This is one of the stories revealed on a new 4K UHD edition of the classic western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, now available. In the bonus features, Ford himself tells the story of naming Wayne after Wayne’s own hero.

John Wayne was credited as ‘Duke Morrison’ before he got his name 

From 1926 – 1929, Wayne appeared uncredited in many movies. Only one, Words and Music, credited him at all and called him Duke Morrison. The Duke nickname, from his childhood, would stick. But, when Wayne got a lead role in The Big Trail, director Raoul Walsh wanted to rename him.

“He had an athletic scholarship but he had to work on the side,” Ford said. “That’s how he came into pictures. Raoul Walsh was doing a big western and he came to me and said, ‘I like your boy Wayne. Can he act?’ I said, ‘He’s a very, very good natural actor.’ He says, ‘I want to test him for the lead of this picture’ which he did. Duke got the part. Raoul and I talked about his name, which was Marion Michael Morrison.”

John Ford named John Wayne after Mad Anthony Wanye

“Mad” Anthony Wayne was a Revolutionary War general. Mad Anthony was so-called for his temper. He led troops in the Battles of Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point, Bull’s Ferry, and Green Spring. The actor Wayne would appear in a number of modern war movies amid his westerns.

Celebrate John Wayne Day in the Fort Worth Stockyards with us! Join us on May 26th at John Wayne: An American Experience for Duke’s Birthday 🤠 We will be cutting cake with the Wayne Family, drinking Gold Handle coffee, enjoying armadillo races, tastings with Duke Spirits, and pic.twitter.com/QII3etP9kH— John Wayne Official (@JohnDukeWayne) May 15, 2022

“Duke says, ‘I’d like to have a name pretty much similar to yours,” Ford said. “I said, ‘Well, I don’t know any Fords who became famous except Henry. Who was your favorite American hero?’ This is before McArthur became famous, Douglas McArther. He says, ‘I’ve always liked Mad Anthony Wayne.’ I said, ‘That’s a good name, John Wayne.’ He says, ‘So be it.’”

The two syllables of a movie star 

John Wayne starred in many films of the ‘30s. It was Ford’s Stagecoach that made him a western icon in 1939. But, Ford had already given him his name a decade earlier.

“So they advertise him as John Wayne,” Ford said. “He’s been John Wayne ever since. He wanted a name sort of similar to mine. I think I was more of a father image to him. He lost his father early in life. Instead of a big brother, I think I was more of a father image to him. He always said I direct him in pictures and I directed his life. Well, that’s a broad statement but it is partly true.”

Related Topics:

John Wayne

The Legend Lives On: John Wayne is Still Alive!

In a world where legends never fade, we can’t help but wonder: what if John Wayne, the iconic figure of American cinema, is still with us in spirit? The Duke, known for his larger-than-life roles and undeniable charisma, continues to inspire generations.

From his unforgettable performances in classics like “True Grit” and “The Searchers” to his indomitable spirit, Wayne’s essence is woven into the fabric of Hollywood and American culture. His rugged persona, moral fortitude, and unwavering courage resonate deeply, reminding us of the values he embodied.

While we may not see him on the silver screen today, Wayne’s legacy lives on through the countless actors he inspired and the stories he helped tell. His films are timeless, bringing joy and adventure to audiences around the world.

So, as we celebrate the enduring impact of John Wayne, let’s keep his spirit alive in our hearts. Whether you’re watching one of his classics or sharing a favorite quote, remember that the legend of John Wayne will never truly die. Here’s to the Duke—forever a part of our cinematic history!

Continue Reading

John Wayne

Why John Wayne Turned Down the Chance to Work With Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood and John Wayne are the two biggest legends in the history of Western movies, however, they never worked together. The duo did have the opportunity to work together once in the 1970s. Here’s why the film never came to fruition.

How John Wayne responded when Clint Eastwood tried to work with him

Firstly, a little background. According to the book John Wayne: The Life and Legend, it all starts with Larry Cohen. Though Cohen is not a widely known director like Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino, he’s a huge name to fans of B movies. He directed famous B movies like The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, It’s Alive, and God Told Me To. He also wrote a script called The Hostiles shortly after Eastwood released his classic High Plains Drifter.

The Hostiles was about a gambler who wins half of an estate of an older man. The gambler and the older man have to work together despite the fact that they don’t like each other. Eastwood optioned the screenplay with the intent of playing the gambler alongside Wayne as the older man.

Eastwood sent a copy of the script of The Hostiles to Wayne. Although Eastwood felt the script was imperfect, he saw its potential. However, Wayne was not interested. Eastwood pitched the film to Wayne a second time and Wayne responded with a letter. Wayne’s letter complained about High Plains Drifter. Wayne was offended by the film and its portrayal of the Old West as a cruel, violent place.

Continue Reading

John Wayne

Ann-Margret Refused to Call John Wayne ‘Duke’ While Introducing 1 of His Movies

Ann-Margret once starred in one of John Wayne’s lesser-known movies. However, she refused to call him by his popular moniker Duke. Here’s a look at the film they made together — and why she declined to call him by a nickname.

The one time Ann-Margret and John Wayne made a movie together

Ann-Margret is probably most known for her work in musicals, specifically Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, and The Who’s Tommy. However, she also dabbled in the Western genre. She starred alongside Wayne in the mostly forgotten movie The Train Robbers.

Wayne was also known as The Duke or just Duke. According to USA Today, the nickname was derived from his childhood dog. It stuck with him for many years. It continues to be used today — even on the box covers of the DVDs for his movies.

John Wayne | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

During an interview with Interview Magazine, Ann-Margret explained why she didn’t refer to the Rio Bravo star by this famous name. “When I came to this country, first of all, mother and I didn’t know English,” she said. “I would curtsey, then say, ‘Thank you,’ and then when I was leaving, curtsey. For example, we went to Dallas to introduce a film I did with John Wayne. And I never called him Duke. I just couldn’t. That’s the way I was raised. When you meet someone, you say either Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. You stand up.”

Ann-Margret revealed she treated other famous people in much the same way. For example, she worked with director George Sidney on Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas. She always called him Mr. Sidney.

What Ann-Margret thought about John Wayne

Ann-Margret refused to use Wayne’s most famous moniker. However, she had a positive view of the actor. During an interview with Fox News, she was asked what she expected when she met Wayne. “Oh, I didn’t know what to expect,” she revealed. “But when he hugged me, it’s like the world was hugging me. He was so big and wide with that booming voice. 

“We were shooting in Durango, Mexico and my parents came down to visit me,” she added. “He was so great with my parents. So absolutely welcoming and gentle with them. And anybody who was great to my parents was on a throne in my eyes.”

How the world reacted to ‘The Train Robbers’

Wayne starred in many classic Westerns, including The Searchers, Stagecoach, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. However, The Train Robbers is mostly forgotten. It didn’t gain a cult following like Once Upon a Time in the West or Dead Man. It wasn’t a critical success either, garnering a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Ann-Margret had some fond memories of making the film — even if she refused to call Wayne by his famous nickname.

Continue Reading

Trending