The Duke: Renamed
The head of Fox Studio was a huge fan of the Revolutionary war. That’s why, when it was time to turn “Marion ‘Duke’ Morrison” into someone who belonged on screen, he went with the last name Wayne, after the Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The first name John was chosen for a more straightforward reason. It just sounded good in front of Wayne. The actor always preferred the name he was born with, Duke Morrison. He was once quoted saying, “I’m Duke Morrison, and I never was and never will be a film personality like John Wayne.”