The life and acting career of John Wayne

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

What self-respecting boy hasn't dreamed of cowboys, wide hats and oversized Colts? How they looked forward to films with Clint Eastwood, Harry Cooper, Burt Lancaster and, of course, John Wayne. He deservedly bore the title of "America's Greatest Cowboy." In the prime of his creative career, he was one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood.

Artist biography

Marion Mike Morrison was born on May 26, 1907 in the small town of Winterset (USA). He grew up as an ordinary child who did not even think about a career as a film actor. He had a dream to become a Marine, but the selection for the US Naval Academy was very tough, and he did not pass the competition. He was fond of football, and thanks to the successful game he was accepted to the law school of the University of South Carolina.

The beginning of the creative path

It all happened quite by accident. During the summer holidays, in 1927, Marion Robert worked part-time at the 20th Century Fox film studio as a costume designer and understudy. handsome guy withdirector John Ford noticed with a disarming smile and shot him in several episodic roles. Since then, the world of cinema has opened its doors and welcomed a new actor named John Wayne.

Even acting in episodes, the artist attracted attention, the audience liked the big guys with huge colts. During this period, he took part in the filming of The Greeting (1929) and Men Without Women (1930). But the real, resounding success was yet to come.

How to become movie artists

Through a chance encounter with John Ford, Wayne's career took off. The actor starred in six films that were successful, and now the finest hour has come. Ford invited him to star in the western stagecoach.

In addition to Wayne, the film starred such stars as Claire Trevor, Andy Devine, John Carradine and others. The tape caused a stir, and people attacked the box office of cinemas. In one moment, the artist became a world celebrity.

In 1941, the Second World War began, the artist was not drafted into the army, but rushed to the front in patriotic fervor. He was stopped only by a contract with a film studio and heavy fines for violating the latter. In order not to stay away from events, the artist plays in military films. The films "The Brave Builders" and "Flying Tigers" raised the morale of American soldiers on the battlefields.

Political views

During the conflict in Vietnam, one of the ardent propagandists of this war was John Wayne. The films "Alamo" and "Green Berets" raised and sohigh rating artist to heaven. The fight against the communists also did not go without the participation of Wayne - he actively supported Senator McCarthy in this matter. He is the only one of the popular artists of American cinema who was not afraid to speak out against the so-called trial of Hollywood during the 40-50s of the last century.

The role of Colonel Kirby from the "Green Berets" brought the actor huge popularity in the US Armed Forces. He especially succeeded in expressing his political views in the role of Ethan Edwards in the film "Set out in search." An interesting fact - a serial killer and a maniac in a clown mask, John Wayne Gacy was very fond of, and often reviewed films with the participation of his full namesake.

Movies and roles

More than 150 different films have been shot with the participation of the great artist, including military, adventure and, of course, westerns. John Wayne put his talent to the test in several beautiful films:

• The movie masterpiece "Rio Bravo" by Howard Hawks reveals the secret of the difficult life of the aged Sheriff Chance, a determined fighter against crime.
• An equally touching story of Tony Dofison plays out in The Man Who Killed Liberty Valance.
• The best work of 1970 is considered "The Gunslinger" - this is a difficult and tragic story of a dying man who realized the meaning of his life.

Awards

In 1949, the actor's first Oscar nomination took place - for the role of John Stryker in the film "The Sands of Iwo Jima". The one played by John Wayne is a killer anda sadist, he trains the Marines before landing in Japan. This was followed in 1969 by an Oscar and a Golden Globe for True Courage.

Personal

Josephine Alicia Saenz was the first to win the heart of a handsome artist, and in 1933 they entered into a marriage alliance. Happy Alicia and Wayne had four children, two boys - Michael and Patrick. And two girls - Melinda and Maria Antonia.

John was not an exemplary family man while Josephine raised offspring. He had affairs with Marlene Dietrich and Merle Oberon. But this could not continue indefinitely, and in 1942 the marriage collapsed, it all ended in divorce.

In 1946, Wayne married actress Esperanza Baur, and his last wife was Pilar Pallet.

Sickness and death

It all started on the set of "The Conqueror" in the hot and dusty desert of southern Utah. The working conditions were incredibly difficult, the clothes of the heroes of the tape hindered movement and caused incredible itching. But the worst was yet to come. It turns out that shortly before the start of filming, a low-power atomic bomb was tested in this desert, but the participants in the film were “forgotten” to warn about this. And within two decades, most of the film crew died from radiation-induced cancer.

Iron Wayne's he alth couldn't stand it either. After numerous operations, in 1976 the heart of the great cowboy of our time stopped. Before his death, he managed to play the role of John Boots in the film The Last of the Great Shooters.

The work of the great John Wayne left a bright mark in the history of not only American, but also world cinema. He played as he lived, without changing his principles and beliefs. The artist was loved by women, men, children and especially soldiers. The patriot of his country was guided by the principle: “This is my country, right or wrong, it doesn’t matter to me”