John Wayne’s Ex-wife, Josephine Wayne Biography: Children, Parents, Siblings, Age, Wikipedia, Net Worth, Religion, Nationality, Ethnicity

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Josephine Wayne, born Josephine Alicia Saenz, is best known as the first wife of legendary actor John Wayne.

Their marriage lasted from 1933 until 1945 and produced four children, contributing to the Wayne family legacy that has been prominent in American cinema.

Josephine’s life intertwined with John Wayne’s rise to fame, and while she often remained in the background, her influence and contributions to their family and community were significant.

Beyond her marriage, Josephine was actively involved in charitable organizations, particularly within the Catholic community in Los Angeles, where she dedicated much of her life to volunteer work and service.

Profile

• Full name: Josephine Alicia Saenz Wayne Nigg
• Nickname: Josie
• Date of birth: May 13, 1908
• Age as of 2025: Would have been 117
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Philanthropist, Volunteer
• Parents: José Saenz (father), Alicia Acosta (mother)
• Siblings: Violette Saenz, Zoraida Josephina Saenz, Joseph Francis Saenz, Charles Frederick Saenz
• Spouse: John Wayne (first husband), Cyril Nigg (second husband)
• Children: Michael Wayne, Mary Antonia “Toni” Wayne LaCava, Patrick Wayne, Melinda Wayne Munoz
• Relationship status: Divorced from John Wayne; divorced from Cyril Nigg
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Ethnicity: Spanish-American
• Net worth: $200k

Early Life and Education

Josephine Alicia Saenz was born on May 13, 1908, in Los Angeles, California. She is notable figure in American history due to her marriage to John Wayne and her philanthropic efforts. Josephine was born into a prominent family; her father served as the Consul General of Panama in the United States.

She has four siblings including, Violette Saenz, Zoraida Josephina Saenz, Joseph Francis Saenz, and Charles Frederick Saenz. Details about her education are limited; however, it is known that she grew up in a household influenced by both Spanish heritage and American values.

Personal Life

At the age of 15 or 16, Josephine met John Wayne at a beach party in Balboa, California. Their relationship faced considerable resistance from her family due to religious differences—Josephine was Catholic while John was a Presbyterian.

Despite these challenges, they courted for seven years before marrying on June 24, 1933. Their union produced four children: Michael (1934-2003), Toni (1936-2000), Patrick (born 1939), and Melinda (born 1940).

After years of marriage marked by John’s burgeoning film career and long hours away from home, their relationship began to deteriorate. Differences regarding child-rearing and lifestyle choices contributed to their separation in 1943. The couple officially divorced in 1945.

Following her divorce from John Wayne, Josephine married businessman Cyril Nigg in 1996. However, this marriage was short-lived as they divorced in 1999. Josephine chose not to remarry after her second divorce and focused on her family and community service.

Career

While Josephine Wayne is primarily known for her marriage to John Wayne, she made significant contributions through her philanthropic work.

She was deeply involved in various charitable organizations throughout Los Angeles, particularly those focused on helping unwed mothers and supporting educational initiatives. Josephine played a key role in founding several Catholic service organizations that aimed to promote charitable missions within the community.

Her dedication to service earned her recognition within the Roman Catholic community of Los Angeles. In 1996, she received the Cardinal’s Award from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for her outstanding contributions to charitable causes.

Awards

• 1996 – Cardinal’s Award from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for outstanding community service.

Net Worth

Josephine Wayne’s net worth at the time was around $200k. However, it is known that she lived comfortably due to her association with John Wayne during his successful film career.

Death

Josephine Wayne passed away on June 6, 2003, at the age of 95 after battling cancer for some time. She died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles.

Social Media

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