John Wayne as the American CowboyWhen I think of an American cowboy in my mind I see the image of John Wayne on horseback in a desert setting riding into the sunset. His name is synonymous with the western film genre. John Wayne's characters are known around the world as American symbols that embody the true characteristics of what Americans should be. His characters have always been so tough and brave and honest. For this and other reasons I believe that the actor John Wayne had an extremely positive impact on ours and other societies around the world. To fully appreciate Wayne's impact, it is important to closely examine his origins 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. At the age of six, 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, there Marion learned to handle horses and often played cowboy. They then moved to the city of Glendale, California, where Clyde opened a pharmacy. In Glendale, Marion got to focus on making a film for the first time. He saw outdoor scenes filmed at Triangle Studios. As if to further influence him, his family's pharmacy was located in the same building as a silent movie theater. Marion saw movies for free at the cinema four or five times a week. It was also in Glendale that Marion was given the infamous 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. In a career of more than 50 years, he left us more than 200 films. His films taught us what it truly means to be an American: to speak out for what you believe in, to be bold and courageous, to be patriotic, to fight to preserve freedom and independence, 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 Americans. When many people around the world think of an American, they too see a photo of John Wayne on horseback in a desert setting as he rides into the sunset. On the day of his death, a Tokyo newspaper ran the headline: “Mr. America passes.”