John Wayne was one of the first Hollywood heartthrobs, known for his countless portrayals in Hollywood classics from the silent era through the American New Wave.
Nicknamed “The Duke,” he was most famous for his roles in Western films, where he played the archetypal rugged, stoic hero.
He was born on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, and began his acting career in the 1920s.
His first marriage to Josephine Alicia Saenz, whom he married in 1933, was reportedly troubled, and they divorced in 1945. Wayne and Saenz had four children together.
He then married Esperanza Baur in 1946, but the marriage was short-lived, and they divorced the following year.
Wayne’s third and final marriage was to Pilar Pallete, a Peruvian actress, whom he married in 1954.
Wayne had three children with Pallete, and the couple stayed together until his death at age 72.
Throughout his life, Wayne had several affairs, including a long-term relationship with actress Marlene Dietrich.
Read More Here: Meet the 7 Kids John Wayne Had With His 3 Wives