John Wayne or simply "The Duke" is one of the greatest actors of all time, appearing in over 150 movies and starring in over 70 movies during his career. He was brilliant in every single role, whether he was a cowboy, a marshal, a colonel, or any other type of character. Fans of all ages love The Duke for his commanding presence on-screen and good heart off-screen.
John Wayne ed away over 40 years ago, but his legacy continues to live on. No one ever thought the prop guy and extra would become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood with a career that spanned over four decades. Here are John Wayne's most iconic roles.
Updated on September 30th, 2020, by Richard Keller: John Wayne could be anyone. Though he could ease himself into the role of a cowboy, he was also a quiet Irish landowner, a hard-nosed private investigator, or a daring World War II pilot. It's why he was in so many movies from the 1930s to the 1970s. In testament to that range, we've revisited this list with some additional iconic roles.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
This was the second of director John Ford's "Cavalry" trilogy. In this one, Wayne is a retiring Cavalry captain given one more assignment — clean up General Custer's mess after the Battle of Little Big Horn. At the same time, he also needs to safely deliver his commanding officer's wife and niece to a stagecoach headed out of Indian territory.
As this is a John Ford movie, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon does more than display Wayne's acting skills. It also makes Monument Valley a star in amazing technicolor. Both the actor and director do a fine job.
The Green Berets
Despite its critical failure and protests about its subject matter, The Green Berets was a commercial success when it was released in 1968. Based on a 1965 novel, the movie was also directed by Wayne, who wanted to show the positive side of those who served in South Vietnam at the time.
Wayne plays the colonel of a Green Beret unit who's sent to Vietnam to various operations. He's ed by a cynical newspaper reporter, played by David Jansen. His unit goes on an espionage mission and shores up a front-line camp with help from a character portrayed by George Takei.
The Searchers
John Ford's The Searchers was not only a commercial success when it premiered in 1956. It also became one of the most influential films of the 20th century. It has been named one of the best Westerns and top movies of all time.
Wayne plays a Civil War veteran who goes on a hunt for his niece, played by Natalie Wood. He's ed by his adoptive nephew, who is played by Jeffrey Hunter. Along the way, the pair encounters numerous obstacles in their search.
Sands of Iwo Jima
While many people link Wayne to his World War II movies, they weren't his bread and butter. He only starred in 13 of these films out of his 100+ library. Still, each one is memorable.
In Sands of Iwo Jima, Wayne takes a demotion to become a sergeant who's disliked by most people. However, they can't discount his power as a trainer and leader. He s a group of Marines as they attempt to take the island of Iwo Jima during the height of the war.
Red River
Gunslinging wasn't the only thing John Wayne did in his Westerns. For the most part, that was a small part. The rest of these films focused on the human condition and how they conquered the harshness of the land at that time.
Red River is an example of this type of film. Directed by Howard Hawkes, it's loosely based on the first cattle drive from Texas to Kansas along the Chisholm Trail. Most of the tension comes from the relationship between Wayne's character and his son, played by Montgomery Clift. The movie was preserved by the National Film Registry thanks to its historical significance.
Stagecoach
John Wayne was beginning to get his acting chops in the 1930s, working as an extra and starting to star in a few B movies. In 1939, he got his break as Ringo Kid, a young outlaw out for revenge for his father and brother's death in John Ford's Stagecoach.
Stagecoach focused on a diverse group of individuals who were all aboard the same stagecoach and are forced to go through several trials and tribulations together, including the birth of a baby. The role set the young actor on a path to success and Wayne soon became a household name.
Red River
John Wayne rarely ever plays the bad guy, but in 1948's Red River, John Wayne starred as Thomas Dunson who was not the hero of the story. Dunson is a tyrannical cattle rancher who, along with the help of his adopted son and the rest of his crew, intends on driving his herd to Missouri for a better price.
The journey isn't smooth sailing, though, as John Wayne's character quickly becomes more of a dictator and ultimately causes his son to rebel against him. It's a dramatic western full of anguish but there is a happy ending as the two men realize they are family and nothing is more important than that.
The Quiet Man
You can't go wrong with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. The charming and romantic on-screen couple starred in 5 movies together, with 1952's The Quiet Man being one of the best films the duo ever made together. Adding John Ford into the mix only made the film that much better.
The Quiet Man takes place in Ireland and centers on ex-boxer Sean Thorton, played by John Wayne, who wants to buy back his family homestead. While doing so, he falls in love with Mary Kate Danaher, played by Maureen O'Hara. This seems all good and fine, except Mary Kate's bully of a brother is dead set on buying Sean's family property for himself.
The Horse Soldiers
Once again, John Ford and John Wayne proved why they were such a massively successful duo with 1959's The Horse Soldiers. The pair showed fans and critics that they can conquer any storyline, even when it's not a western.
Set during the Civil War, John Wayne portrays Union Colonel John Marlowe, whose job is to lead his cavalry in destroying a Confederate railroad depot. Things go awry, though, when southern bell Miss Hannah Hunter hears of their plan, forcing them to take her along to ensure she doesn't interfere.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
With an all-star cast including Lee Marvin, James Stewart, and The Duke and direction by John Ford, you know the movie is going to be iconic. 1962's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence is talked about today, even though it's been almost 60 years since it was filmed.
When lawyer Ransom Stoddard rides into town, he is greeted by a cruel gang with Liberty Valance as their leader. Luckily for Ransom, local rancher Tom Doniphon, played by John Wayne, is there to help him out. When Ransom finds himself in a gunfight with Liberty, Tom is once again there to aid him but this time in secret. The legend of the man who shot Liberty Valance spread across the west and "when the legend becomes facts, print the legend."
