Early Years

Although born in Iowa in 1907, John Wayne (born Marion Morrison), lived in Southern California from 1914 through the rest of his life. Young Marion Morrison went to school in Glendale, California. The local firemen at the station on his route to school called him little Duke because he never went anywhere without his large Airedale Terrier, Duke.

From then on Marion Morrison became known as Duke Morrison until "The Big Trail" when he was given the screen name John Wayne by director Raoul Walsh.

The Morrison Family: Marion (aka Duke) with his dog Duke, his younger brother Robert and their parents in Glendale, CA