John Wayne as an American Cowboy When I think of an American cowboy in my mind, I see a picture of John Wayne riding high on his horse in a desert setting, riding at sunset. His name is synonymous with the western film genre. John Wayne's characters are known around the world as American symbols who embody the true characteristics of what Americans should be. His characters were always so tough, courageous and honest. For this and other reasons, I consider the actor John Wayne to have had an extremely positive impact on our society and other societies around the world. To fully appreciate Wayne's impact, it is important to take a close look at where he came from and consider the factors in his upbringing that influenced his development. John Wayne was born Marion Michael Morrison in Winterset, Iowa, on May 26, 1907. When he was six years old, his father Clyde Morrison became ill and decided to move the family to Southern California. The family lived for a short time on an eighty-acre farm, where Marion learned to handle horses and often played cowboy. They then moved to the town of Glendale, California, where Clyde opened a drug store. In Glendale, Marion was exposed to cinema for the first time. He saw exterior scenes filmed at Triangle Studios. As if to further influence him, the family pharmacy was in the same building as a silent movie theater. Marion went to the cinema for free four to five times a week. It was also in Glendale that Marion received his famous nickname “Duke”. Despite the royal and noble connotations of the name Duke, Marion received it from her Airedale terrier also named Duke. Marion was an "A" student, president of the Latin society...... middle of paper ...... Harine Hepburn. The film was Hepburn's first western. John "The Duke" Wayne died of lung cancer on June 11, 1979 at the age of 72. During a career spanning more than 50 years, he left us more than 200 films. His films taught us what it truly means to be an American: to stand up for what you believe in, to be bold and courageous, to be patriotic, to fight to preserve freedom, and to love your country. There is no doubt that John Wayne had a positive influence on society, as his message transcended social and political boundaries. He became a household name and, to many, an example of a rare breed of true American. When many people around the world think of an American, they also see a photo of John Wayne riding his horse in a desert at sunset. On the day of his death, a Tokyo newspaper headlined: "Mr. America is moving on.”