| Nicknames: | "Josie Saenz", "Josie Wayne" |
| Birthdate: | |
| Birthplace: | Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States |
| Death: | Died in North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, United States |
| Cause of death: | Cancer |
| Managed by: | Jerry Nay |
| Last Updated: | |
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31486707
Josephine Alicia "Josie" Wayne (née Saenz) was the first wife of legendary film actor John Wayne.
At the 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. After courting for seven years, however, Wayne's financial status improved considerably due to his success at the box office, 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.
Josephine Saenz died in 2003, aged 95, from cancer, having been predeceased by two of her children, Michael and Toni.
| 1908 |
May 13, 1908
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Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States
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| 2003 |
June 24, 2003
Age 95
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North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, United States
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| 1933 |
June 24, 1933
Age 25
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Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California, United States
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| 1945 |
December 25, 1945
Age 37
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California, United States
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| ???? |
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| 2003 |
June 27, 2003
Age 95
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Corona del Mar, Orange County, California, United States
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| ???? |
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| 1936 |
February 25, 1936
Age 27
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Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
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| 1940 |
December 3, 1940
Age 32
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Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
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