John Wayne, whose real name was Marion Robert Morrison, was an iconic figure in American film. Known by his nickname 'Duke', he rose to fame as one of the leading actors in Hollywood's Golden Age, with a career spanning across four decades. He starred in 179 films, mostly in the Western and war genres. His tough, rugged character projected an image of American masculinity that made him a symbol of national pride and patriotism. Wayne was born on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa. He grew up in Southern California and it was there where he developed his acting career. He kicked-started his journey with minor roles, however, his breakthrough came with the film Stagecoach (1939). He emerged as a mainstream star of the era, working alongside major Hollywood stars in numerous successful films. He received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in True Grit (1969). Despite his increasing health issues, Wayne continued to be active in his career until his final years. His last film was The Shootist (1976), in which he played an aging gunfighter battling cancer - an illness which he himself was battling in real life. He succumbed to stomach cancer on June 11, 1979.