John Wayne or simply "The Duke" is one of the greatest actors of all time, appearing in over 150 movies and starring in over 70 movies during his career. He was brilliant in every single role, whether he was a cowboy, a marshal, a colonel, or any other type of character. Fans of all ages love The Duke for his commanding presence on-screen and good heart off-screen.
John Wayne passed away over 40 years ago, but his legacy continues to live on. No one ever thought the prop guy and extra would become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood with a career that spanned over 4 decades. Here are John Wayne's 10 most iconic roles:
10 Stagecoach
John Wayne was beginning to get his acting chops in the 1930s, working as an extra and starting to star in a few B movies. In 1939, he got his break as Ringo Kid, a young outlaw out for revenge for his father and brother's death in John Ford's Stagecoach.
Stagecoach focused on a diverse group of individuals who were all aboard the same stagecoach and are forced to go through several trials and tribulations together, including the birth of a baby. The role set the young actor on a path to success and Wayne soon became a household name.
9 Red River
John Wayne rarely ever plays the bad guy, but in 1948's Red River, John Wayne starred as Thomas Dunson who was definitely not the hero of the story. Dunson is a tyrannical cattle rancher who, along with the help of his adopted son and the rest of his crew, intends on driving his herd to Missouri for a better price.
The journey isn't smooth sailing, though, as John Wayne's character quickly becomes more of a dictator and ultimately causes his son to rebel against him. It's a dramatic western full of anguish but there is a happy ending as the two men realize they are family and nothing is more important than that.
8 The Quiet Man
You can't go wrong with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. The charming and romantic on-screen couple starred in 5 movies together, with 1952's The Quiet Man being one of the best films the duo ever made together. Adding John Ford into the mix only made the film that much better.
The Quiet Man takes place in Ireland and centers on ex-boxer Sean Thorton, played by John Wayne, who wants to buy back his family homestead. While doing so, he falls in love with Mary Kate Danaher, played by Maureen O'Hara. This seems all good and fine, except Mary Kate's bully of a brother is dead set on buying Sean's family property for himself.
7 The Horse Soldiers
Once again, John Ford and John Wayne proved why they were such a massively successful duo with 1959's The Horse Soldiers. The pair showed fans and critics that they can conquer any storyline, even when it's not a western.
Set during the Civil War, John Wayne portrays Union Colonel John Marlowe, whose job is to lead his cavalry in destroying a Confederate railroad depot. Things go awry, though, when southern bell Miss Hannah Hunter hears of their plan, forcing them to take her along to ensure she doesn't interfere.
6 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
With an all-star cast including Lee Marvin, James Stewart, and The Duke and direction by John Ford, you know the movie is going to be iconic. 1962's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence is talked about today, even though it's been almost 60 years since it was filmed.
When lawyer Ransom Stoddard rides into town, he is greeted by a cruel gang with Liberty Valance as their leader. Luckily for Ransom, local rancher Tom Doniphon, played by John Wayne, is there to help him out. When Ransom finds himself in a gunfight with Liberty, Tom is once again there to aid him but this time in secret. The legend of the man who shot Liberty Valance spread across the west and "when the legend becomes facts, print the legend."
5 The Sons of Katie Elder
The 1962 film The Sons of Katie Elder was a huge success, but how could it not be with John Wayne and Dean Martin in the same movie. The story focuses on the four grown sons of the town saint Katie Elder who had recently passed away. While Katie was sweet, honest, and caring, her sons did not inherit those same qualities.
The oldest John (John Wayne) is a gunfighter, Tom (Dean Martin) is a professional gambler, Matt is an unsuccessful hardware dealer, and Bud is still in school but he dreams of being a gunslinger like his oldest brother. The first three realize they let their saintly mother down and are determined to see Bud go to college and be the son Katie deserved. The four brothers go to battle together as they reclaim their home and make Katie proud.
4 El Dorado
The 1960s were full of great western actors such as John Wayne, Steve McQueen, James Stewart, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Mitchum. Having John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in the same movie proved to be a wise decision, with 1966's El Dorado became a huge hit among western fans.
John Wayne played Cole Thorton, a gunslinger for hire, who returns to the town of El Dorado as he was hired by wealthy landowner Bart Jason. But when Cole realizes he would have to fight his old friend the drunken sheriff, J.P. Harrah played by Robert Mitchum, he turns down the offer. Cole joins forces with J.P. to protect the town from the bully Bart Jason.
3 True Grit
True Grit is arguably John Wayne's most memorable movie out of the 70+ he starred in. The 1969 film earned The Duke his first-ever Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actor. Tue Grit, to this day, is a highly-regarded iconic film, with the book even being adapted again in 2010 by the Coen brothers.
John Wayne starred as U.S. Marshal "Rooster" Cogburn, a man of true grit and alcohol. He is hired by 14-year-old Mattie Ross, played by Kim Darby, to track down Tom Chaney, the man who killed her father. Fans fell in love with the "one-eyed fat man" as the two unlikely partners, along with the help of La Boeuf, track down Tom Chaney and Ned Pepper.
2 The Cowboys
In today's world, parents rarely let their children out of their sight; however, during western times, things were a bit different. When a rancher needed workers for a 400-mile cattle driver, parents gladly let their young sons go off to work.
John Wayne starred as Wil Anderson in the 1972 film The Cowboys. When old cattle rancher Wil's crew quits on him, he is forced to hire the local kids to help him drive his cattle. The film stole the hearts of viewers everywhere, as they watched the bond between the grizzly cattle rancher and the boys grow to something akin to family. It remains one of the most beloved John Wayne films to this day.
1 The Shootist
John Wayne had a career that spanned for 4 decades, with his big break coming in 1939 as Ringo Kid in Stagecoach and his last role being J.B. Books in the 1976 film The Shootist. J.B. Books is an old gunslinger who finds out he has cancer, but this old gunfighter isn't going out without a fight.
The American hero, John Wayne, passed away in 1979, only a few years after filming his final movie. That said, his legacy will never be forgotten. As they say, "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
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