Stamp honour for film hero Wayne

Wayne is seen wearing his trademark cowboy hat

Late film star John Wayne has been honoured with a commemorative postage stamp by the US postal service.

The stamps, featuring Wayne in a classic cowboy pose, were unveiled at a charity event for the John Wayne Cancer Institute on Saturday in California.

The stamp is part of the postal service's annual Legends of Hollywood series, which has honoured stars such as James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.

Wayne has appeared on a stamp before, as Ringo Kid in Stagecoach in 1990.

Academy award

"He would be glad to know he will be visiting the homes and businesses of millions of his fans every day," said Ethan Wayne, one of Duke's seven children.

Wayne is considered by many to be the greatest screen cowboy, appearing in more than 150 films.

Director John Ford gave Wayne his big break in 1939 film Stagecoach and he went on to appear in several of Ford's films including his Cavalry Trilogy and The Searchers.

He directed two films in later life, The Alamo and The Green Berets.

Wayne, nicknamed The Duke, won a best actor Oscar in 1969 for his role in True Grit.

He died of cancer in 1979.