John Wayne is one of the biggest names to emerge from Hollywood’s Golden Age, but it’s not the name the actor was born with. Though he led films in varying genres, Wayne is most celebrated for his work in Westerns. Considered one of the greatest Western movie stars of all time, Wayne’s rugged on-screen image represented American values at the time.

With as much of a box-office draw as Wayne’s name was during his career and how synonymous it has become with Westerns, it may surprise some to learn it’s a stage name he adopted early on in his career. There are several actors whom audiences don’t call by their real names, and the story of how “John Wayne” came to be is fascinating.

John Wayne’s Real Name Was Marion Morrison

As A College Student He Worked On Various Film Sets

In 1907, Wayne was born in Iowa as Marion Morrison. Early in life, Wayne’s family made the move to California, where Wayne became an accomplished football player and an active participant in his high school’s extracurricular activities.

When attending the University of Southern California, Wayne had a part-time job at the then-Fox Film Corporation. It was here, moving set props and working as an occasional extra, that Wayne first became familiar with movie sets and big stars.

Wayne even portrayed a football player in some of these films at the time alongside his real-life USC teammates, as seen in Brown of Harvard and The Drop Kick. During this time, Wayne was discovered by director Raoul Walsh, who’d help give him his iconic name.

How Marion Morrison Became “John Wayne”

Director Raoul Walsh Provided Him The Stage Name, Though Wayne Had No Input

Wayne earned his first leading role in Walsh’s The Big Trail. When searching for someone to cast as the lead, Walsh wanted an unknown actor that audiences wouldn’t see as playing a part (via Imprimis). Walsh spotted Wayne while he was working as a prop boy and discussed with Fox Studios’ Winfield Sheehan as to what his stage name could be.

Walsh had first suggested Anthony Wayne, inspired by the Revolutionary War General of the same name, nicknamed “Mad Anthony.” However, the two settled on “John Wayne,” and though the young actor was not asked for his input, it stuck and transformed into a household name over the years.

In spite of its technical achievements, stunning visuals, and Wayne’s promising performance, The Big Trail failed at the box office. Wayne was temporarily relegated to B-movie status as a result of the film, and for a while, it was a Wayne Western that wasn’t talked about often, though audiences and movie critics have grown to appreciate The Big Trail in more recent years.

Where John Wayne’s “The Duke” Nickname Came From

The Star’s Nickname Goes Back To His Childhood

Wayne is often referred to by the nickname “The Duke,” with its origin going back to the actor’s time in Glendale, California. When living in the area, Wayne would often visit the local firehouse and was always accompanied by his Airedale Terrier, Duke. Naturally, the firemen began calling Wayne “Little Duke,” and the nickname stuck for many years.

Many of Wayne’s minor roles before starring in The Big Trail were uncredited, but for his part in Words and Music, Wayne was credited for the first and only time as “Duke Morrison.” As Wayne’s career took off, he took the nickname with him. To this day, both professional and casual conversations about Wayne frequently see the actor lovingly referred to as Duke.

Sources: Imprimis, John Wayne Enterprises