John Wayne aka ‘The Duke’ was an American film actor, director and producer. He was born on May 26, 1907 in Winterset, Iowa but he grew up in Southern California. Wayne played his first starring role in the 1930 film, The Big Trail. He rose to prominence following his role in the 1939 film, Stagecoach, directed by John Ford. His other notable films include Red River (1948), The Searchers (1956) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). He won an Academy Award for Best Actor in the 1969 film, True Grit. Prior to acting, he attend the University of South California where he studied pre-law. John Wayne died in 1979 after battling stomach cancer. He had a net worth of $50 million.
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