John Wayne was best man at his marriage to Estelita Rodriguez.
A noticeable weight gain and failing health (back problems) triggered his suicide in 1959, at the age of 54, dying from an overdose of barbiturates. He left behind a note in which he apologized to all the people he'd purportedly let down during his Hollywood days.
Attended Kemper Military Academy and first drew interest in acting after appearing in school plays.
Buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. His grave marker reads 1905 (not 1904) as his year of birth.
He died from an overdose of barbituates
He eloped with Loretta Young in 1930 when he was 25 and she was just 17, shortly after appearing together in the film The Second Floor Mystery (1930). He was not Catholic, and they were not married by a priest. The scandal caused a sensation. Loretta was able to obtain an annulment since the marriage was invalid in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
Married and divorced five times, including an annulment from Loretta Young, his first.
Was a salesman for the Standard Oil Company and worked for the Los Angeles Record newspaper before acting. His first assignment was covering the funeral of actor Wallace Reid. He quit after finding work as an extra in films.
Was a stock player for director John Ford in later years.
Worked with Buster Keaton and W.C. Fields in his early silent films.