Stacker reports John Wayne, originally Marion Morrison, transitioned from football to iconic Western star, earning accolades like Best Actor for "True Grit."

John Wayne nearly starred in the World War II classic, but one part of the script convinced the Western legend to walk away from the role.

In 1977, Hollywood icon John Wayne was asked to name his five favorite movies ever made. The results were just as insightful and unexpected at the time as they are today; Wayne is generally considered a legend of the Western genre,

John Wayne looking to the distance in The Searchers. Image via Warner Bros. John Wayne is the epitome of classic cinema and an icon of Hollywood's Golden Age, who made a name for himself by starring in timeless Westerns and war films such as The Searchers ...

The legendary actor loved one celebrated Western so much that he honored its unforgettable hero in a deeply personal way.

John Wayne ended up shooting himself in the foot when he inadvertently torpedoed his own chances at winning the first Oscar of his career.