John Wayne died on 11 June 1979 in Westwood, aged 72. An American actor, Wayne became the archetype of the Hollywood cowboy and war hero. Discovered by the director John Ford, he rose to stardom in Stagecoach in 1939 and appeared in classics such as Red River, The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for True Grit in 1969. Known for his tall frame, slow drawl and rugged persona, he appeared in well over a hundred films and was a vocal supporter of conservative politics. He died of cancer after a long career.
Before and after
- 4 April 1979Birth of Heath Ledger
- 5 April 1979Establishment of Kakadu National Park
- 17 May 1979Establishment of Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park
- 19 May 1979Birth of Diego Forlán
- 11 June 1979Death of John Wayne
- 18 June 1979Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
- 28 June 1979Establishment of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
- 8 July 1979Discovery of Adrastea
- 27 August 1979Warrenpoint ambush
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1954Publication of The Lord of the Rings
- 1956Premiere of Eurovision Song Contest
- 1958Publication of Exodus
- 1 December 1969Publication of Doraemon
- 1986Construction of Musée d'Orsay
- 7 December 2024Construction of Notre-Dame de Paris
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.