Biography

Michael Wayne

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Michael Wayne was the eldest son of John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz, the daughter from a socially prominent Latina family living in Los Angeles. He graduated from Loyola University of California in 1956 and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. His interest in film production began when he served as a production assistant during the filming of the John Ford 1951 classic The Quiet Man (1952), which starred his father. Michael Wayne joined his father's film production, Batjac, during the filming of The Alamo (1960) and became the line producer for McLintock! (1963). He subsequently produced many star vehicles for his father, including Brannigan (1975), The Green Berets (1968), Big Jake (1971) and The Train Robbers (1973).

Following his father's death from cancer in 1979, Michael Wayne served as the head of Wayne Enterprises, which owns many of his father's films. Other business interests included movie distribution, merchandising his father's image, real estate and other investments. He also served as the chairman of the board of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center.
- IMDb mini biography by: Marcd30319

According to Gary Wills' "John Wayne's America," John Wayne "called his son Michael 'Krushchev' behind his back because of his harsh bearing and unforgiving ways." The Duke told his third wife, Pilar Wayne, that Michael had never gotten over his abandonment of Michael's mother Josie, his first wife.
Brother-in-law of Frankie Avalon. Their wives are sisters.
Michael and his wife, Gretchen Wayne, were guests on the TV show You Bet Your Life (1950) with Groucho Marx when they were married only 2 months. He had just been executive producer for Escort West (1959) with Victor Mature and was only 23 years old at the time.
Son of John Wayne and Josephine Alicia Saenz
Following his father's death in 1979 from cancer, Michael Wayne announced plans to film a John Wayne biopic, which was never produced.

"I produced McLintock! (1963) when I was 25 years old. I don't think if I wasn't John Wayne's son, I would have had that opportunity. It wasn't all smooth, working with my father; there were a lot of bumps along the way, both for him and me, but I wish he were still around so we could get in arguments".

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