John Wayne was thrice married, of which two he considered unsuccessful. He was also a father to seven children he raised in a multi-million dollar mansion. Before cancеr ended his life, Wayne’s third wife left him. Nevertheless, he remained a good father, and his kids remember him as such. Born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, John Wayne tried to become a farmer before joining the entertainment industry. When he moved to California, he went by the nickname “Duke,” the same moniker as his dog. They were known as “Big Duke” and “Little Duke.”
He studied at the University of Southern California under a football scholarship. Unfortunately, his scholarship was cut short after two years due to an injury. Instead of focusing on sports, Wayne worked as a film extra and appeared in the films “Brown of Harvard” and “Drop Kick.” John Wayne was thrice married, of which two he considered unsuccessful. He was also a father to seven children he raised in a multi-million dollar mansion. Before cancеr ended his life, Wayne’s third wife left him. Nevertheless, he remained a good father, and his kids remember him as such.
Born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, John Wayne tried to become a farmer before joining the entertainment industry. When he moved to California, he went by the nickname “Duke,” the same moniker as his dog. They were known as “Big Duke” and “Little Duke.” He studied at the University of Southern California under a football scholarship. Unfortunately, his scholarship was cut short after two years due to an injury. Instead of focusing on sports, Wayne worked as a film extra and appeared in the films “Brown of Harvard” and “Drop Kick.”
As he landed more roles, he met directors John Ford and Raoul Walsh, the man behind the actor’s stage name. Wayne found himself as an average actor in B movies, often of the western genre. In 1939, he finally landed his breakthrough role in the movie “Stagecoach,” directed by Ford. Wayne soon became among the most famous actors of his time, recognized for his roles in “The Alamo” and “True Grit.” He also starred in “Seven Sinners,” “Pittsburgh,” “The Spoilers,” “Red River,” “The Long Voyage Home,” and “Fort Apache.” In 1949, his critically acclaimed performance in “Sands of Iwo Jima” earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Two decades later, he won his first Academy Award for his performance in “True Grit.”
Wayne also worked behind the scenes as a director and producer. His directorial debut was in the film “The Alamo,” while his first movie produced was “Angel and Badman.” In 1968, he directed, starred in, and produced another movie, “The Green Berets.” Besides his film and television career, Wayne left a legacy through his seven children. Wayne was married to a Panamanian businessman’s daughter, Josephine Saenz, from 1933 to 1945. Saenz was raised in a strict Catholic household and educated in a convent-run institution.
The couple had four children, Patrick, Michael, Antonia, and Melinda. Of his four children with Saenz, Wayne’s two sons followed in the entertainment industry. Michael became a producer while Patrick pursued an acting career. Wayne was already making waves in Hollywood by then with his leading lady, Marlene Dietrich, often paired with him. Although married, he began an affair with the actress and was rumored to have romantic relationships with other women, including Latina Esperanza “Chata” Baur.
The pair met in August 1941 and didn’t take long to develop feelings for each other. Wayne’s friends were particularly shocked when he deviated from his usual type. Baur, a brothel keeper’s daughter, was a much heavier drinker than he and did not have fair skin. Wayne’s affair with Dietrich was no secret that they would show affection on set. While Saenz initially kept her patience, having two other women in her husband’s life was no longer acceptable. She sought help from a priest to guide Wayne toward the right path, to no avail.
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