In Memoriam: John Wayne

Today, I would like to celebrate and honor the memory and career of the late John Wayne, who would have turned 105 today were he still alive. Born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa, Wayne got his acting start in an uncredited role in the 1926 film Brown of Harvard, and he continued to work consistently throughout the 1920s and 1930s before making his big break in John Ford's 1939 film, Stagecoach. Over the course of a career that spanned five decades, John Wayne cemented himself as one of the most beloved actors ever to grace the silver screen. He made a name for himself in the western genre, but he was known to dabble in a slew of different genres, including drama, comedy and the illustrious war film. Wayne appeared in over 170 titles over the course of his career, and within those years he starred in such memorable films as 1945's They Were Expendable, 1949's Sands of Iwo Jima, 1952's The Quiet Man, 1954's The High and the Mighty, 1956's The Searchers, 1959's Rio Bravo, 1960's The Alamo and 1969's True Grit, for which he won his only Academy Award. And so, to honor and celebrate his life and career, I have created a list of my five favorite of John Wayne's film performances, and I've managed to find a few clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, please help me in remembering this legendary actor.

5. Ringo Kid

Stagecoach (1939)

*****

4. George Washington McLintock

McLintock! (1963)

***** 

3. Rooster Cogburn

True Grit (1969)

***** 

2. Sean Thornton

The Quiet Man (1952)

***** 

1. J.B. Books

The Shootist (1976)