John Wayne was the masculine ideal of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The all-American actor helped shape the Western as a glamorous film genre in Hollywood. As an A-lister in the industry, Wayne portrayed the classic cowboy of the American imagination in a career spanning over five decades. But John Wayne almost didn’t become an actor.
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Initially, Wayne was playing college football, but when his athletic scholarship was pulled after an injury, he needed to find a different path. He quickly realized that he was born for the big screen. From his health complications and controversial opinions, this is the life and incredible career of Marion Morrison, aka the Duke, aka John Wayne.