Josephine Alicia Saenz
Encyclopedia
Josephine S. Wayne was the first wife of American
film
actor
John Wayne
. The union produced four children including film producer Michael Wayne
and actor Patrick Wayne
.
in the United States
, José Saenz, a wealthy businessman who lived in Los Angeles, California
. Aged 15 or 16 when she met John Wayne
, an actor in college still named Marion Morrison, while at a beach party in Balboa, California. Their relationship met with considerable resistance from her family because he was a Presbyterian.
, and he was able to convince her family to allow the marriage. The couple married on June 24, 1933, in a garden ceremony at actress Loretta Young
's home.
Their union produced four children: Michael Wayne
(film producer, November 23, 1934 - April 2, 2003), Mary Antonia "Toni" Wayne LaCava (February 25, 1936 - December 6, 2000), Patrick Wayne
(born July 15, 1939) and Melinda Wayne Munoz (born December 3, 1940).
After a few years, the marriage was in trouble. Wayne worked long hours at his career and was always surrounded by associates from the film world. The couple also had differences of opinion about how their children should be raised. In 1943 they separated and eventually divorced in 1945. In accordance with her religious beliefs she never remarried.
, having been predeceased by two of her children, Michael and Toni.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
. The union produced four children including film producer Michael Wayne
Michael Wayne
Michael Anthony Morrison was an American film producer and actor, and the eldest son of legendary Hollywood actor John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz.-Biography:...
and actor Patrick Wayne
Patrick Wayne
Patrick John Morrison, better known by his stage name Patrick Wayne , is an American actor, the second son of movie star John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz. He made over 40 films in his career, including nine with his father...
.
Biography
Josephine Alicia "Josie" Saenz was born in 1908 to the Consul General of PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, José Saenz, a wealthy businessman who lived in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Aged 15 or 16 when she met John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, an actor in college still named Marion Morrison, while at a beach party in Balboa, California. Their relationship met with considerable resistance from her family because he was a Presbyterian.
Marriage
After courting for seven years, however, Wayne's financial status improved considerably due to his success at the box officeBox office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
, and he was able to convince her family to allow the marriage. The couple married on June 24, 1933, in a garden ceremony at actress Loretta Young
Loretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
's home.
Their union produced four children: Michael Wayne
Michael Wayne
Michael Anthony Morrison was an American film producer and actor, and the eldest son of legendary Hollywood actor John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz.-Biography:...
(film producer, November 23, 1934 - April 2, 2003), Mary Antonia "Toni" Wayne LaCava (February 25, 1936 - December 6, 2000), Patrick Wayne
Patrick Wayne
Patrick John Morrison, better known by his stage name Patrick Wayne , is an American actor, the second son of movie star John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz. He made over 40 films in his career, including nine with his father...
(born July 15, 1939) and Melinda Wayne Munoz (born December 3, 1940).
After a few years, the marriage was in trouble. Wayne worked long hours at his career and was always surrounded by associates from the film world. The couple also had differences of opinion about how their children should be raised. In 1943 they separated and eventually divorced in 1945. In accordance with her religious beliefs she never remarried.
Death
Josephine Saenz died in 2003, at age 95, from cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, having been predeceased by two of her children, Michael and Toni.