John Wayne was thrice married, of which two he considered unsuccessful. He was also a father to seven children he raised in a multi-million dollar mansion. Before cancer ended his life, Wayne’s third wife left him. Nevertheless, he remained a good father, and his kids remember him as such.
Born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, John Wayne tried to become a farmer before joining the entertainment industry. When he moved to California, he went by the nickname “Duke,” the same moniker as his dog. They were known as “Big Duke” and “Little Duke.”
He studied at the University of Southern California under a football scholarship. Unfortunately, his scholarship was cut short after two years due to an injury. Instead of focusing on sports, Wayne worked as a film extra and appeared in the films “Brown of Harvard” and “Drop Kick.”
As he landed more roles, he met directors John Ford and Raoul Walsh, the man behind the actor’s stage name. Wayne found himself as an average actor in B movies, often of the western genre. In 1939, he finally landed his breakthrough role in the movie “Stagecoach,” directed by Ford.
Wayne soon became among the most famous actors of his time, recognized for his roles in “The Alamo” and “True Grit.” He also starred in “Seven Sinners,” “Pittsburgh,” “The Spoilers,” “Red River,” “The Long Voyage Home,” and “Fort Apache.”
In 1949, his critically acclaimed performance in “Sands of Iwo Jima” earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Two decades later, he won his first Academy Award for his performance in “True Grit.”
Although married, he began an affair with the actress and was rumored to have romantic relationships with other women, including Latina Esperanza “Chata” Baur.
Wayne also worked behind the scenes as a director and producer. His directorial debut was in the film “The Alamo,” while his first movie produced was “Angel and Badman.” In 1968, he directed, starred in, and produced another movie, “The Green Berets.”
John Wayne Had Seven Children from Two of His Three Marriages
Besides his film and television career, Wayne left a legacy through his seven children. Wayne was married to a Panamanian businessman’s daughter, Josephine Saenz, from 1933 to 1945. Saenz was raised in a strict Catholic household and educated in a convent-run institution.
The couple had four children, Patrick, Michael, Antonia, and Melinda. Of his four children with Saenz, Wayne’s two sons followed in the entertainment industry. Michael became a producer while Patrick pursued an acting career.
Wayne was already making waves in Hollywood by then with his leading lady, Marlene Dietrich, often paired with him. Although married, he began an affair with the actress and was rumored to have romantic relationships with other women, including Latina Esperanza “Chata” Baur.
The pair met in August 1941 and didn’t take long to develop feelings for each other. Wayne’s friends were particularly shocked when he deviated from his usual type. Baur, a brothel keeper’s daughter, was a much heavier drinker than he and did not have fair skin.
Wayne’s affair with Dietrich was no secret that they would show affection on set. While Saenz initially kept her patience, having two other women in her husband’s life was no longer acceptable. She sought help from a priest to guide Wayne toward the right path, to no avail.
Their marriage ended soon enough, with Wayne claiming she was cold in bed. Wayne later married Baur, but their relationship was faulty from the beginning. Not only did they have a language barrier. But she also had a terrible temper.
In May 1952, Wayne realized it was time to end his marriage. He later tied the knot with his third wife, Pilar Palette, with whom he shares three kids, Aissa, Ethan, and Marisa Wayne. Among them. Only Ethan joined show business as an actor.
The actor also had a study in his home, the largest room in the mansion. The space reflected Wayne’s characteristics – a warm and kind man who likes to be comfortable in his house.
Unfortunately, their relationship was also plagued with problems. Palette couldn’t adjust to life in Hollywood as she grew up accustomed to the culture in Peru. She eventually sought refuge in sleeping pills. The pair ultimately called it quits after nearly two decades.
Although Wayne wasn’t faithful in his marriages, he was not lacking as a provider and a father. He tried to be the best dad he could be to his children and created memories to last a lifetime.
John Wayne Raised His Children in a California Mansion
For most of their lives, Wayne’s children grew up in a 4,500 square-foot home in the Big Canyon Golf Course in Newport Beach, California. It had a stunning view of the golf course and boasted several amenities, including a gym and a library. The house also had three bedrooms and four bathrooms.
The actor also had a study in his home, the largest room in the mansion. The space reflected Wayne’s characteristics – a warm and kind man who likes to be comfortable in his house. Wayne’s study had a fireplace, a small gun collection, and Western American and American Indian artwork.
Wayne’s study had bits and pieces of his career, such as the genres he worked with in films and kachina dolls the actor collected while filming in Monument Valley, Arizona. In front of the home’s entrance sat Wayne’s station wagon.
Since moving from their Encino residence, the Newport estate was home to Wayne and his children for fourteen years.
Wayne was happy with his decision to relocate when the opportunity presented itself. Admittedly, with the increase in real estate prices in the area, the actor would have had difficulty paying for the land if he had bought it later.
When away from home, Wayne tried to make himself comfortable by adding touches of his house to hotel rooms. He said:
Still, nothing compares to being home. Wayne’s children also have fond memories of their household, particularly with the actor.
Wayne’s son, Ethan, remembers his dad as an affectionate man at home, far from the characters he portrays on-screen. “I’d run, and I’d jump, and he’d pick me up and twirl me around,” Ethan recalled. “A big bear hug. He’d always give you a big hug or a kiss on the head. Tell you he loved you.”
When Dwayne stepped on set, he turned into a completely different man. Admittedly, his son described him as a meaner person.
As a boy, Wayne pulled his son out of school and took him to travel. The doting dad’s logic was simple – he would no longer be around when Ethan Wayne was in his 30s, so he wanted to love him as much as possible. “He was a great dad,” Ethan said. Wayne was 56 when Ethan was born.
Ethan later took charge of John Wayne Enterprises and continued living in his hometown, Newport Beach, California.
Patrick remembered his father as someone with “grit and courage” until the end of his life. He was a man who stood strong amidst difficulties and helped others during their time of need.
Wayne’s daughters, Aissa and Marisa, also have memories with their father. Aissa remembers Wayne as a stern yet reasonable, kind father. One particular memory happened when she was a little girl and purposely stepped on another girl.
Christmas was a holiday Wayne specifically liked. As his daughter recalled, Wayne would get up in the wee hours of the morning to wait for his children to open their gifts.
When the girl told Wayne what Aissa had done, he demanded his daughter tell the truth. “If you lie to me, you’re gonna disappoint me, and you’re gonna go to your room, and you’re gonna be punished,” he said. “If you tell the truth, well, you’re still gonna be punished, but I’m not gonna be disappointed in you.”
Marisa had one particular experience with Wayne she would never forget. At around nine years old, she accidentally hit her father with a golf club while trying to play the sport. Wayne was quickly taken by an ambulance.
Fortunately, she hit him near the eye, not the temple, where it could have killed him. Instead of getting mad at his daughter, Wayne said, “Well, you’re the only one who had the nerve to do this to me.”
Marisa was always referred to as his father’s Princess, but she was nicknamed Nine Iron since the incident. “We each felt like we were his favorite,” she said.
Christmas was a holiday Wayne specifically liked. As his daughter recalled, Wayne would get up in the wee hours of the morning to wait for his children to open their gifts. She recalled:
“On Christmas Eve, he’d take me to the room where the wrapped presents were and let me open a few. He’d say, “I got you so many; it’s not fair to the other kids.’”
John Wayne’s Wife Left Him After He Battled Cancer. Still, He Tried to Be a Good Father to His Kids
In his older age, Wayne’s health deteriorated. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in the ’60s and successfully defeated it in 1964. However, he had to have a lung and some ribs removed from his body,
Even after his bout with cancer, Wayne continued to star in films, succeeding in “El Dorado,” alongside Robert Mitchum, and “True Grit.” His third wife also decided to leave him in the early ’70s, although she claimed they were married until his final breath.
Wayne received several other tributes after his death, including renaming Orange Country Airport after him, Wayne’s feature on a 1990 and 2004 postage stamp, and his induction into the California Fall of Fame.
Palette described her husband as a “strong, generous, and kind” man with great humor. He was someone people genuinely loved for his intellect and personality. Wayne also had strong political opinions, which he made known through his films and public statements.
In 1976, Wayne starred as a cancer victim John Bernard Books, in “The Shootist,” his final film. Books wanted a peaceful death but was involved in another shootout before his passing. It took two years before his on-screen role turned into reality. In 1978, Wayne was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
“He was in constant pain, and he was very uncomfortable,” Wayne’s son, Patrick, said of his last weeks. “He would often reach out to others in the UCLA Medical Center and try to console them.”
Wayne succumbed to the aggressive disease on June 11, 1979, in Los Angeles, California. He was 72. Besides his many achievements as an actor, Wayne received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. His family accepted the medals in 1980.
In 2013, decades after his passing, Wayne’s California mansion was sold for $3.95 million. Although the house will always be remembered as Wayne’s residence, it no longer has the same interior and atmosphere.
Wayne received several other tributes after his death, including renaming Orange Country Airport after him, Wayne’s feature on a 1990 and 2004 postage stamp, and his induction into the California Fall of Fame.
Wayne left a lasting legacy before his passing when he asked his family and friends to help doctors in their fight against cancer. In 1985, John Wayne Cancer Foundation was created to support cancer research and related initiatives.
In 2013, decades after his passing, Wayne’s California mansion was sold for $3.95 million. Although the house will always be remembered as Wayne’s residence, it no longer has the same interior and atmosphere as the actor wanted. It had been renovated several times by previous owners.
