Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

What Happened To John Wayne’s Children?

John Wayne's Children
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

John Wayne, originally named Marion Robert Morrison and nicknamed The Duke, was a film icon in western films, making him Hollywood’s heartthrob during his time. The late actor had three wives, so with all the fame and recognition, we can’t help but wonder, what were John Wayne’s children’s lives like growing up, and where are they now? 

The producer, actor, and director started working for Fox Film Corporation after losing a football scholarship at the University of Southern California due to a body surfing accident. From there, he got small roles, eventually starring in The Bog Trail by Raoul Walsh, but the film didn’t sell so well. 

He was casted for leading roles in the 1930s, but it was Stagecoach by John Ford that turned him into a mainstream star. From then on, his career took off. But it seems he took being a heartthrob too close to heart as he allegedly had numerous affairs. 

John Wayne was first married to Josephine’ Josie’ Saenz, with whom he had four children—Michael, Toni, Patrick, and Melinda. However, it was Wayne’s infidelity and Josphine’s indignation that ended their marriage. 

A year later, Wayne tied the knot with Esperanza “Chata” Baur Diaz, but Diaz became an alcoholic, leading to numerous arguments, so their marriage ended as well. According to Wayne’s friends, his wedding with Diaz seemed to be a “spur of the moment” occasion which was probably the reason why they didn’t bear a child together. 

Wayne’s third wife, Pilar Pallete, is a Peruvian actress and the daughter of a Peruvian senator in Northern Peru. They welcomed three children—Alissa, John Ethan, and Marisa—into the family. 

That said, let’s meet John Wayne’s seven children. 

Michael Wayne (Michael Anthony Morrison)

Michael Wayne was born on the 23rd of November 1934 in Los Angeles, California. Years later, he got his Business degree at Loyola University in 1956, also in California. 

Being John Wayne’s eldest child, Michael was greatly influenced by his dad’s career choice. He started as a production assistant on The Quiet Man set in 1951 before joining Batjac Productions, his father’s production company at the time, for Alamo in 1960. 

With a reputable track record of being a good businessman, Michael held a position as president, as well as chairman of the board, of the John Wayne Foundation, and was part of the board of Motion Picture & Television Fund. 

Michael was married to Gretchen, and they had five children together—four daughters (Josephine, Teresa, Alicia, and Maria) and a son named Christopher. However, in 2003 at the age of 68, Michael passed away due to heart failure caused by complications from lupus erythematosus

Mary Antonia “Toni” Wayne LaCava (Mary Antonia Morrison)

Josephine and John Wayne welcomed their first daughter, Mary Antonia Morrison, to the world on the 25th of February 1936. Just like her father and brother, Toni also pursued a career in show business as an actress. She is best known for her work in the 1992 The Making of The Quiet Man, and the 1941 Meet the Stars #3: Variety Reel #1.

However, she spent most of her life taking the role of a wife and mother. Toni was married to Donald La Clava, and together they had eight children—Christopher, Anita, Brendan, Peter, Kevin, David, Mark, and Brigid.

Unfortunately, on December 6, 2000, Toni died of lung cancer. 

Patrick Wayne (Patrick John Morrison) 

Patrick was born on the 15th of July 1939 in Los Angeles, California. As with the rest of his family, Patrick also pursued a career in acting with his stage name, Patrick Wayne. He built a career for himself and made appearances in films such as The Searchers, and Mister Roberts. He created more than 40 films, of which 11 are with his father. 

In the later years of his career, he hosted television shows including The Monte Carlo Show, a 1980 variety show, and Tic-Tac-Dough, the 1990 revival of the show. He officially retired in 1997. 

Melinda Wayne Munoz (Melinda Ann Morrison)

Born as Melinda Ann Morrison on the 3rd of December 1940, Melinda was also an actress best known for her work in the 1952 The Quiet Man. She married Gregory Munoz on April 4, 1964, and the couple had five children together, but they later divorced in 1985. 

Aissa Wayne

Aissa was born on the 31st of March 1956 in Burbank, California. She was also an actress known for her work in 1963 McLintock, the 1960 The Alamo, and the 1977 Hollywood Greats. But eventually, Aissa left the show business and became an attorney in Los Angeles. 

John Ethan Morrison (Ethan Wayne) 

Ethan Wayne was born on February 22, 1962, in Encino, California, but was raised in Newport Beach, California. It’s clear that his birth and upbringing were heavily influenced by his father and the film industry seeing as he was named after his father’s character, Ethan Edwards, in The Searchers, and he also played Little Jake, the grandson of Big Jake, his father’s character. 

After his father died in 1979, Ethan started doing stunt work with his first film being The Blue Brothers. However, he returned to acting with his two major film appearances being; Longshot, a comedy film, and Scream, a slasher film. 

His later works include numerous TV appearances before he retired in 2003. He is now serving as the director of John Wayne Cancer Foundation, while also managing John Wayne Enterprises

Marisa Carmela Wayne

Marisa was born in Burbank, California, on the 22nd of February 1966. On the 4th of May 2005, Marisa married Tony Ditteaux, and they have two children: Carmela Louise Ditteaux, who was born on June 18, 2004, and Duke Morrison Ditteaux, who was born on September 13, 2007.

From his children’s chosen careers and lifestyles, Wayne’s influence on his kids is evident. Despite being under the spotlight for most of their childhood, John Wayne’s children still continued to look up to their dad. And it is precisely this influential manifestation that allowed John Wayne’s legacy to live on. 

Latest Stories

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together in a bar setting for their duet “A Song to Sing.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s “A Song to Sing” Duet Feels Like an Instant Classic

Sometimes country music gives you a line so pure it feels like it’s been here forever, and that’s exactly what Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton just pulled off with “A ...

Blake Shelton and Noah Cyrus standing side by side with microphones, performing their new country duet together.

Noah Cyrus Teams Up With Blake Shelton for New Country Duet and Fans Are Loving It

Sometimes country music needs a little shot of something wild, and Noah Cyrus just poured it straight into Blake Shelton’s glass. It’s not every day you see the Voice coach ...

George Strait performing on stage with his guitar and cowboy hat, pictured at a previous event not related to the upcoming Strait From the Heart benefit concert.

George Strait Will Play “Strait to the Heart” Benefit Concert to Raise Money for Flood Victims

Some kings wear crowns, some kings wear boots, and show up when the water’s rising. George Strait, the King of Country himself, is stepping up once again for the people ...

Blake Shelton smiles on stage with guitar and mic during Vegas show, putting his own spin on George Strait’s classic.

Blake Shelton Nails George Strait Classic With His Own Spin on “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

Sometimes you don’t mess with a George Strait classic, unless you’re Blake Shelton standing under the Vegas lights with a grin that says you’re about to pay tribute and stir ...

Dolly Parton smiles during Khloé podcast interview, sitting by mic and lamp as she shares why she won't stop sharing faith.

Dolly Parton Says People Tell Her To Stop Talking About Her Faith But She Won’t Listen

If there’s one thing you can count on Dolly Parton for, it’s that she’ll say exactly what’s on her heart and not give a single rhinestone what anyone thinks. In ...

Little Mississippi boy in plaid shirt smiles at mic during preschool graduation where he recited New Testament books and sang a George Strait classic.

4-Year-Old Boy Recites New Testament Books Then Belts Out ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’

If there’s ever been a preschool graduation that screams “God bless the South,” this is it. Somewhere in Mississippi, a four-year-old kid just made the entire congregation beam with pride ...

Young George Strait smiling on stage playing guitar in 1987 when “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” hit No. 1 and proved he ran country.

On This Day in 1987, George Strait Hit No. 1 with ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’ and Proved He Ran Country

Sometimes a song just cements your throne forever, and for George Strait, it was a little tongue-in-cheek love letter that made every Texan proud to claim him as their king. ...

Scotty McCreery with his wife and both grandmothers, who he revealed passed away hours apart in a heartbreaking double loss.

Scotty McCreery Reveals Both His Grandmothers Died Hours Apart in Heartbreaking Double Loss

You just don’t see some country heartbreaks coming, and this one hit Scotty McCreery straight in the soul. This week, the North Carolina native and Opry favorite shared the gut-wrenching ...

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian smiling outdoors, not taken when she spoke about feeling hated after their affair scandal.

LeAnn Rimes Says So Many Women Hated Her After Affair With Eddie Cibrian and She Felt Like a Target

Ain’t every country ballad pretty, and LeAnn Rimes knows her verse is messy as hell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) Back in ...