John Wayne | First Movie: The Big Trail

Having starred in 179 film and television productions, John Wayne had become a famous icon in the entertainment industry through his roles in Western genre movies. Throughout his professional acting career, it spanned from the silent era of the 1920s, the Golden Age of Hollywood, and up to the American New Wave. Over three decades, Wayne became among the box-office draws in his prime, collaborating with other celebrities at the time—credit to his fame.

Later in his career, Wayne directed some movies, including the 1960 film The Alamo and The Green Berets in 1968. The actor won his first award for Best Actor at the 1969 Oscars for the movie True Grit. Wayne’s last film was The Shootist in 1976. The actor also ventured into business, co-founding a production company called Batjac. The company was named after the fictional shipping company Baltjak in the movie, which he starred in 1948, Wake of the Red Witch.