Michael Anthony Morrison (November 23, 1934 – April 2, 2003), better known by his stage name Michael Wayne, was an American film producer and actor. He was the eldest son of actor
John Wayne
Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...
and his first wife, Josephine Saenz.
Biography
Born in Los Angeles, California, Wayne graduated from
Loyola University in California in 1956 with a Business degree and served in the
U.S. Air Force Reserve
The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commiss ...
.
[Goldberg, Melissa. â€]
Obituaries: Michael Wayne; Film producer, eldest son of John Wayne
– ''Variety''. – April 3, 2003
Wayne began his film career as a production assistant on the set of the
John Ford
John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...
film ''
The Quiet Man
''The Quiet Man'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. The screenplay by Frank S. Nugent was based on a 1933 '' Saturday ...
'' in 1951. He joined his father's film production company,
Batjac Productions
Batjac Productions is an independent film production company co-founded by John Wayne in 1952 as a vehicle for Wayne to both produce and star in movies. The first Batjac production was '' Big Jim McLain'' released by Warner Bros. in 1952, and its ...
, for ''
The Alamo'' (1960) and became line producer for ''
McLintock!
:''See also McClintock (disambiguation)''
''McLintock!'' is a 1963 American Western (genre), Western comedy film, comedy film, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. The film co-stars Wayne's son Patrick Wayne, ...
'' (1963) and producer on many other John Wayne vehicles including ''
Big Jake
''Big Jake'' is a 1971 American Technicolor Western film starring John Wayne, Richard Boone and Maureen O'Hara. The picture was the final film for George Sherman in a directing career of more than 30 years. It grossed $7.5 million in the ...
'' (1971) and ''
Cahill U.S. Marshal
''Cahill U.S. Marshal'' is a 1973 American Western film in Technicolor starring John Wayne as a driven lawman in a black hat. The film was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and filmed on location in Durango, Mexico. The supporting cast features G ...
'' (1973).
Wayne, who developed the reputation of being a good businessman, served on the board of the
Motion Picture & Television Fund
The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries and their families with limited or no resources, including services such as tempo ...
and was The John Wayne Foundation's president and chairman of the board. He also was founder and chairman of the board of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at
Saint John's Health Center
Providence Saint John's Health Center, formerly St. Johns Hospital and Health Center, is a private not-for-profit, Roman Catholic hospital in Santa Monica, California, United States. The hospital was founded in 1942 by the Sisters of Charity of ...
.
Wayne and his wife, Gretchen, had five children, son Christopher, daughters Alicia, Josephine, Maria, and Teresa. He died at the age of 68 of heart failure as the result of complications from
lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is a collection of autoimmune diseases in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissues. Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blo ...
, just two months before his mother's death.
Filmography
*''
The Quiet Man
''The Quiet Man'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. The screenplay by Frank S. Nugent was based on a 1933 '' Saturday ...
'' (1952) (uncredited) as Teenage boy at races
*''
The Conqueror'' (1956) (uncredited) as Mongol guard
*''
The Alamo'' (1960) Associate Producer, and assistant to Producer, and first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
*''
McLintock!
:''See also McClintock (disambiguation)''
''McLintock!'' is a 1963 American Western (genre), Western comedy film, comedy film, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. The film co-stars Wayne's son Patrick Wayne, ...
'' (1963) Producer
*''
Cast a Giant Shadow
''Cast a Giant Shadow'' is a 1966 big-budget action film based on the life of Colonel Mickey Marcus, and stars Kirk Douglas, Senta Berger, Yul Brynner, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Angie Dickinson. Melville Shavelson adapted, produced and direct ...
'' (1966) Co-Producer
*''
The Green Berets
The United States Army Special Forces (SF), colloquially known as the "Green Berets" due to their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force of the United States Army.
The Green Berets are geared towards nine doctrinal mis ...
'' (1968) Producer
*''
Chisum
''Chisum'' is a 1970 American Western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring John Wayne in the titular role, and adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story "Chisum and the Lincoln County War." The supporting cast featu ...
'' (1970) Executive Producer
*''
Big Jake
''Big Jake'' is a 1971 American Technicolor Western film starring John Wayne, Richard Boone and Maureen O'Hara. The picture was the final film for George Sherman in a directing career of more than 30 years. It grossed $7.5 million in the ...
'' (1971) Producer
*''
The Train Robbers
''The Train Robbers'' is a 1973 American Western film written and directed by Burt Kennedy and starring John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor, Ben Johnson, and Ricardo Montalban. Filming took place in Sierra de Órganos National Park in the to ...
'' (1973) Producer
*''
Cahill U.S. Marshal
''Cahill U.S. Marshal'' is a 1973 American Western film in Technicolor starring John Wayne as a driven lawman in a black hat. The film was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and filmed on location in Durango, Mexico. The supporting cast features G ...
'' (1973) Producer
*''
McQ
''McQ'' is a 1974 American Panavision neo-noir crime action film directed by John Sturges and starring John Wayne. It costars Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, and Al Lettieri, and features Colleen Dewhurst, Clu Gulager, David Huddleston, Julian Chri ...
'' (1974) Executive Producer
*''
Brannigan'' (1975) Executive Producer, and presenter
*''
Rapid Fire'' (1989) as Eddy Williams
*''The Lost Platoon'' - Hayden (1991)
Television appearances
*''
You Bet Your Life
''You Bet Your Life'' is an American comedy quiz series that has aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show deb ...
'', episode #9.15, as himself (1959)
*''
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' (often simply referred to as ''Laugh-In'') is an American sketch comedy television program that ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968, to March 12, 1973, on the NBC television network, hosted by comedians Da ...
'', episode #2.3, as himself (1968)
*''
Hollywood Greats
''Hollywood Greats'' is a BBC Television series, which originally ran from 1977 to 1985. The film critic Barry Norman wrote and narrated a series of in-depth profiles on major Hollywood film personalities, in which he interviewed surviving assoc ...
'', episode on John Wayne, as himself (1984)
*''John Wayne's 'The Alamo, video documentary short, as himself (1992)
*''The Making of 'The Quiet Man, video documentary short, as himself (1992)
*''The Making of 'Sands of Iwo Jima, video documentary short, as himself (1993)
*''
The 12th Annual Golden Boot Awards'', telemovie, as himself (1993)
*''Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick'', documentary, as himself (1995)
*''
E! True Hollywood Story
''E! True Hollywood Story'' is an American television documentary series on E! that pulls back the curtain and highlights some of pop culture's most fascinating people, moments and trends. The series offers exclusive interviews with new insigh ...
'', episode "James Bacon: Hollywood Confidential", as himself (1999)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wayne, Michael
1934 births
2003 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American male film actors
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Deaths from lupus
Film producers from California
Hispanic and Latino American male actors
Loyola Marymount University alumni
Male actors from Los Angeles
People with lupus