John Wayne, an iconic American actor who appeared in more than 175 films and starred in countless Westerns, died on this day in 1979 after battling cancer for more than a decade, at 72. Read/watch more about Wayne and his history:

American Masters:
John Ford and John Wayne — a friendship and professional collaboration that spanned 50 years, changed each others’ lives, changed the movies, and in the process, changed the way America saw itself.

Antiques Roadshow:
A guest finds an old yearbook at an L.A.-area garage sale…and it contains the photo and signature of a very young Marion Morrison, a.k.a. John Wayne. Video at link.

NewsHour:
an interview with the author of John Wayne’s America: The Politics of Celebrity, about the myth and reality of John Wayne and his importance in American culture and manhood.