American actor, director, and producer John Wayne (1907–1979) began working on films as an extra, prop man, and stuntman, mainly for the Fox Film Corporation. He frequently worked in minor roles with director John Ford and when Raoul Walsh suggested him for the lead in The Big Trail (1930), an epic Western shot in an early widescreen process called Fox Grandeur, Ford vouched for him. Wayne's early period as a star was brief. Fox dropped him after only three leads. He then appeared in a string of low-budget action films (mostly Westerns) before garnering more recognition with the 1939 film Stagecoach.

During the 1940s and early 1950s, Wayne starred in Dark Command (1940), Reap the Wild Wind (1942), Wake of the Red Witch (1948), Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Rio Grande (1950), and Red River (1948). Some of his more notable war movies include Flying Tigers (1942), The Fighting Seabees (1944), They Were Expendable (1945), and Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.

The 1950s had Wayne starring in an Ireland-set romantic comedy, The Quiet Man (1952), and two Westerns, The Searchers (1956) and Rio Bravo (1959). Wayne also continued his producing activities during this period, and formed his own production company, Batjac. During the 1960s and 1970s, Wayne starred in more Westerns, such as The Comancheros (1961), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), El Dorado (1966), and True Grit (1969), in which his role as Rooster Cogburn earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. He would reprise that role in the 1975 film Rooster Cogburn. He also appeared in several war films, including The Longest Day (1962) and In Harm's Way (1965).

Wayne starred in his final film, The Shootist, in 1976, ending his acting career of 50 years, 169 feature-length films,Landesman, pp. 417–418. and various other television appearances or voice-overs.

Filmography

As actor Year Title Role Notes Refs. 1926 Brown of Harvard Yale Football Player Uncredited Landesman, pp. 53–55. Bardelys the Magnificent GuardLandesman, pp. 29–31. ExtraLandesman, pp. 124–126. 1927 Annie LaurieLandesman, pp. 19–21. The Draw-Back Opposing Football Player Short film; uncredited Football Player / Extra in Stands Uncredited; a.k.a. Glitter (UK title)Landesman, pp. 96–98. Seeing Stars Tall Boy Short film; uncredited 1928 Mother Machree Extra UncreditedLandesman, pp. 230–232. Four Sons OfficerLandesman, pp. 121–122. Hangman's House Horse Race Spectator / Condemned Man in Flashback UncreditedLandesman, pp. 131–133. A Home-Made Man Man on Stool Short film; uncredited Noah's Ark Flood extra UncreditedLandesman, pp. 240–242. 1929 Speakeasy ExtraLandesman, pp. 336–337. 42nd Highlander UncreditedLandesman, pp. 40–41. Words and Music Credited as Duke MorrisonLandesman, pp. 412–413. Salute Midshipman Bill Landesman, pp. 301–303. Football Player UncreditedLandesman, pp. 119–121. 1930 Men Without Women Radioman on Surface Landesman, pp. 228–230. Born Reckless ExtraLandesman, pp. 46–47. Rough Romance Lumberjack UncreditedLandesman, pp. 298–299. Cheer Up and Smile Roy UncreditedLandesman, pp. 63–64. Wayne's first starring roleLandesman, pp. 37–40.Fagen, pp. 40–41. 1931 Girls Demand Excitement Landesman, pp. 123–124. Three Girls Lost Landesman, pp. 366–367. Arizona a.k.a. Men Are Like That and The Virtuous Wife (UK title)Landesman, pp. 226–228. Richard Thorpe as a corpse Landesman, pp. 90–92. Landesman, pp. 266–268.Fagen, p. 336. Maker of Men Landesman, pp. 209–211. 1932 Landesman, pp. 321–323. Texas Cyclone Landesman, pp. 354–355. Two-Fisted Law Duke Landesman, pp. 384–385.Fagen, p. 451. Lady and Gent Landesman, pp. 178–180. Landesman, pp. 154–156. Ride Him, Cowboy a.k.a. The Hawk (UK title)Landesman, pp. 281–283.Fagen, p. 350. That's My Boy Taylor - Harvard Player UncreditedLandesman, pp. 358–359. Landesman, pp. 35–37.Fagen, p. 40. Haunted Gold Landesman, pp. 137–138.Fagen, p. 203. 1933 Landesman, pp. 352–353.Fagen, p. 422. Landesman, pp. 370–372. Central Airport Co-Pilot in Wreck UncreditedLandesman, pp. 61–63. Somewhere in Sonora Landesman, pp. 332–333.Fagen, p. 400. His Private Secretary Landesman, pp. 143–145. Smith a.k.a. The Kid's Last Fight (UK title)Landesman, pp. 196–198. Baby Face Landesman, pp. 21–23. Landesman, pp. 214–215.Fagen, p. 271. Riders of Destiny Landesman, pp. 284–286.Fagen, p. 352. College Coach Student Greeting Phil Uncredited; a.k.a. Football Coach (UK title)Landesman, pp. 70–72. Sagebrush Trail a.k.a. An Innocent Man (UK title)Landesman, pp. 300–301.Fagen, p. 374. 1934 a.k.a. Gold Strike RiverLandesman, pp. 207–209.Fagen, p. 264. West of the Divide Landesman, pp. 399–400.Fagen, p. 481. Blue Steel a.k.a. Stolen Goods (UK title).Landesman, pp. 44–46.Fagen, p. 49. Landesman, pp. 215–216.Fagen, p. 272. Randy Rides Alone Landesman, pp. 264–265.Fagen, p. 335. Landesman, pp. 344–345.Fagen, p. 411. Landesman, pp. 375–377.Fagen, p. 442. Landesman, pp. 188–190.Fagen, p. 249. 'Neath the Arizona Skies Landesman, pp. 232–233.Fagen, p. 291. 1935 Texas Terror Landesman, pp. 356–357.Fagen, p. 428. Rainbow Valley Landesman, pp. 262–264.Fagen, p. 334. Landesman, pp. 92–93.Fagen, p. 128. a.k.a. Cold VengeanceLandesman, pp. 89–90.Fagen, p. 121. Paradise Canyon a.k.a. Guns Along The TrailLandesman, pp. 254–256.Fagen, p. 314. Westward Ho Landesman, pp. 401–403.Fagen, p. 483. Landesman, pp. 233–236. Lawless Range Landesman, pp. 192–193.Fagen, p. 250. 1936 A lost film; 40 stills were discovered in 2013Landesman, pp. 248–250.Fagen, p. 302. Landesman, pp. 190–191. King of the Pecos Landesman, pp. 176–177.Fagen, p. 236. Landesman, pp. 199–201.Fagen, p. 260. Winds of the Wasteland a.k.a. Stagecoach RunLandesman, pp. 403–405.Fagen, p. 493. Sea Spoilers Landesman, pp. 310–313. Conflict Landesman, pp. 75–77. 1937 California Straight Ahead! Landesman, pp. 57–59. I Cover the War Landesman, pp. 157–159. Idol of the Crowds Landesman, pp. 161–162. Adventure's End Landesman, pp. 7–9. Born to the West a.k.a. Hell Town (reissue title)Landesman, pp. 48–50.Fagen, pp. 55–56. 1938 Pals of the Saddle The first of eight films in the "Three Mesquiteers" seriesLandesman, pp. 252–254.Fagen, p. 313. Overland Stage Raiders Landesman, pp. 250–251. Santa Fe Stampede Landesman, pp. 306–308. Red River Range Landesman, pp. 276–278. 1939 Stagecoach Ringo Kid Landesman, pp. 340–344.Fagen, pp. 407–408. Landesman, pp. 238–240. Three Texas Steers a.k.a. Danger Rides the Range (UK title)Landesman, pp. 373–375.Fagen, p. 434. Wyoming Outlaw Landesman, pp. 413–415. New Frontier a.k.a. Frontier HorizonLandesman, pp. 236–238. Allegheny Uprising a.k.a. The First Rebel (UK title)Landesman, pp. 13–15.Fagen, p. 8. 1940 Dark Command Landesman, pp. 86–88.Fagen, pp. 119–120. Three Faces West Landesman, pp. 363–365. Olsen Landesman, pp. 202–205. Seven Sinners Dan a.k.a. Cafe of the Seven Sinners (UK re-issue title)Landesman, pp. 318–321. 1941 a.k.a. Citadel of Crime (UK title) and Wheel of Fortune (TV title) Landesman, pp. 212–214. Lady from Louisiana Landesman, pp. 183–185. Landesman, pp. 326–328.Fagen, p. 387. 1942 Lady for a Night Landesman, pp. 180–183. Reap the Wild Wind Landesman, pp. 268–272. Landesman, pp. 338–340.Fagen, p. 404. In Old California Landesman, pp. 165–168.Fagen, p. 224. Flying Tigers Landesman, pp. 113–116.Reunion in France a.k.a. Mademoiselle France (UK title)Landesman, pp. 278–281. Pittsburgh Landesman, pp. 256–259. 1943 Landesman, pp. 185–188.Fagen, p. 238. In Old Oklahoma a.k.a. War of the Wildcats (re-issue title)Landesman, pp. 168–171.Fagen, p. 225. 1944 Landesman, pp. 104–107. Tall in the Saddle Rocklin Landesman, pp. 348–351.Fagen, p. 420. Flame of Barbary Coast Landesman, pp. 107–110.Fagen, p. 160. 1945 Back to Bataan Landesman, pp. 23–26. They Were Expendable Landesman, pp. 359–363. Dakota Landesman, pp. 82–85.Fagen, p. 115. 1946 Without Reservations Landesman, pp. 409–411. 1947 Angel and the Badman Also producerLandesman, pp. 16–19.Fagen, pp. 11–12. Tycoon Johnny Landesman, pp. 387–389. 1948 Red River Landesman, pp. 272–276.Fagen, p. 341. Fort Apache Landesman, pp. 116–119.Fagen, pp. 164–166. 3 Godfathers Landesman, pp. 367–370.Fagen, pp. 431–432. Wake of the Red Witch Landesman, pp. 393–396. 1949 Landesman, pp. 101–104.Fagen, p. 155. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Landesman, pp. 323–326.Fagen, p. 388. Sands of Iwo Jima Landesman, pp. 303–306. 1950 Rio Grande Landesman, pp. 289–292.Fagen, pp. 360–361. 1951 Operation Pacific Landesman, pp. 246–248. Flying Leathernecks Landesman, pp. 110–113. 1952 Also second unit director (uncredited)Landesman, pp. 259–262. Big Jim McLain Also producerLandesman, pp. 33–35. 1953 Trouble Along the Way Landesman, pp. 379–380. Island in the Sky Also producerLandesman, pp. 171–173. Hondo Landesman, pp. 146–148.Fagen, p. 214. 1954 Landesman, pp. 140–143. 1955 Landesman, pp. 308–310. Screen Directors Playhouse TV series (Episode: "Rookie of the Year") Blood Alley Also producer Landesman, pp. 41–44. 1956 Temüjin Landesman, pp. 77–80. Landesman, pp. 313–317.Fagen, pp. 378–379. 1957 Landesman, pp. 406–408. Jet Pilot Landesman, pp. 173–176. Legend of the Lost Landesman, pp. 193–195. 1958 Landesman, pp. 27–29. 1959 Rio Bravo Landesman, pp. 286–289.Fagen, pp. 358–359. Landesman, pp. 149–151.Fagen, pp. 218–219. 1960 Also director and producerLandesman, pp. 9–13.Fagen, p. 6. North to Alaska Landesman, pp. 242–246.Fagen, p. 293. Wagon Train TV series (Episode: "The Colter Craven Story") 1961 Landesman, pp. 72–75.Fagen, p. 99. 1962 Alcoa Premiere Marine Sergeant TV series (Episode: "Flashing Spikes"); credited as Marion Morrison Landesman, pp. 217–220.Fagen, pp. 274–275. Hatari! Landesman, pp. 133–136. Landesman, pp. 205–207. How the West Was Won Landesman, pp. 152–154.Fagen, p. 220. 1963 Donovan's Reef Landesman, pp. 93–96. McLintock! Landesman, pp. 220–223.Fagen, p. 280. 1964 Circus World a.k.a. The Magnificent Showman (UK title)Landesman, pp. 68–70. 1965 Centurion at Crucifixion Landesman, pp. 126–128. In Harm's Way Rock Landesman, pp. 162–165. Landesman, pp. 333–336.Fagen, pp. 402–403. 1966 Cast a Giant Shadow Also co-executive producer (uncredited)Landesman, pp. 59–61. El Dorado Landesman, pp. 98–101.Fagen, p. 142. 1967 Landesman, pp. 396–399.Fagen, p. 475. 1968 Landesman, pp. 129–313. Hellfighters Landesman, pp. 139–140. 1969 True Grit Landesman, pp. 381–385.Fagen, pp. 447–448. Landesman, pp. 390–393.Fagen, p. 453. 1970 No Substitute for Victory Narrator Chisum Landesman, pp. 65–68.Fagen, pp. 87–89. Rio Lobo Landesman, pp. 292–295.Fagen, p. 361. Swing Out, Sweet Land Himself Harry Jackson: A Man and His Art Narrator Short documentary 1971 Big Jake Also uncredited executive producerLandesman, pp. 31–33.Fagen, pp. 37–38. 1972 Landesman, pp. 80–82.Fagen, pp. 108–110. Cancel My Reservation Himself 1973 Lane Also executive producer (uncredited)Landesman, pp. 377–379.Fagen, p. 444. Cahill U.S. Marshal a.k.a. Cahill (UK title); also executive producer (uncredited)Landesman, pp. 55–56.Fagen, p. 70. 1974 McQ Lieutenant Lon "McQ" McHugh Landesman, pp. 223–226. 1975 Brannigan Landesman, pp. 50–53. Rooster Cogburn Landesman, pp. 295–298.Fagen, p. 366. 1976 Landesman, pp. 328–332.Fagen, pp. 389–390. 1977Star WarsGarindanStock audio only; uncredited

As himself