John Wayne

All 8 John Wayne Movie Deaths

Movie star John Wayne had dedicated fans who hated seeing any deaths surrounding the characters he played. He held an image that represented America to many moviegoers, making it hard for some to stomach watching his characters die. Nevertheless, Wayne had 8 character deaths out of his large filmography totaling over 200 motion pictures, not including 1955’s The Sea Chase, which left his character’s fate unknown.

‘Reap the Wild Wind’ (1942)

'Reap the Wild Wind' Paulette Goddard as Loxi Claiborne and John Wayne as Captain Jack Stuart, the first of his character deaths. They're standing behind the ship wheel looking shocked. L-R: Paulette Goddard as Loxi Claiborne and John Wayne as Captain Jack Stuart | FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images

Cecil B. DeMille’s Reap the Wild Wind is set in the 1840s, when a group of salvagers go from profiting off shipwrecks to to causing them. All those in the American South consider King Cutler (Raymond Massey) the most dangerous, who sets his eyes on the ships of the wealthy Devereaux Company, Captain Jack Stuart (Wayne), and the company’s lawyer, Stephen Tolliver (Ray Milland). Meanwhile, they fight for the romance of Loxi Claiborne (Paulette Goddard).

Wayne has his first of a handful of deaths on the silver screen in Reap the Wild Wind, where the captain dies in a dangerous octopus attack.

‘The Fighting Seabees’ (1944)

'The Fighting Seabees' John Wayne as Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan in a sepia-toned picture, looking surprised John Wayne as Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan | Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Duncan Cramer’s The Fighting Seabees follows Wedge Donovan (Wayne), the head of a construction company, during World War II. The Navy seeks him out to train their men as specialists, but he wants to prove that he can turn his own crew will be able to accomplish the task.

Wayne faced the second of his characters’ deaths via gunshot/explosion.

‘Wake of the Red Witch’ (1948)

'Wake of the Red Witch' John Wayne as Captain Ralls and Gail Russell as Angelique Desaix looking surprised behind a ship's wheel L-R: John Wayne as Captain Ralls and Gail Russell as Angelique Desaix | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Edward Ludwig’s Wake of the Red Witch is set in the 1860s in the South Pacific, Capt. Ralls (Wayne) acts as the head of a ship called the Red Witch. The story chronicles his adventures involving sunken treasures and dangers, such as a giant octopus.

Wayne’s character died in Reap the Wild Wind as a result of an octopus attack, but in Wake of the Red Witch, he met his demise by drowning.

‘Sands of Iwo Jima’ (1949)

'Sands of Iwo Jima' John Wayne as Sgt. John M. Stryker looking ahead in a black-and-white picture wearing his Army uniform John Wayne as Sgt. John M. Stryker | Getty Images

Allan Dwan’s Sands of Iwo Jima finds Marine Sgt. John Stryker (Wayne) wrestles with gaining the respect of his own men, who can’t stand his difficult attitude and the tough training that he puts them through. He’s forced to deal with his own personal demons as they continue to fight through the beaches, where his men finally discover why he is the way that he is.

Stryker succumbs to his gunshot wounds at the end of Sands of Iwo Jima in a performance that earned Wayne his first Oscar nomination.

‘The Alamo’ (1960)

John Wayne as Davy Crockett smiling in costume John Wayne as Davy Crockett | United Artists/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Wayne’s epic The Alamo takes place in 1836, where a small group of soldiers agrees to sacrifice their own lives to stop a much larger army from pushing forward through the Republic of Texas, giving their allies time to respond. Wayne played Col. Davy Crockett to help gain financing and sell the film to audiences.

Crockett met his end from a combination of a lance and explosion.

‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ (1962)

'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' John Wayne as Tom Doniphon and James Stewart as Ransom Stoddard in a black-and-white picture in the pub. L-R: John Wayne as Tom Doniphon and James Stewart as Ransom Stoddard | Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

John Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is set around Senator Stoddard (James Stewart) making a surprise appearance at the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon (Wayne). The film rewinds to their younger years, where Tom saved Stoddard’s life after a run-in with a crew of outlaws run by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin).

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was the only instance of Wayne’s character’s cause of death is natural causes.

‘The Cowboys’ (1972)

'The Cowboys' John Wayne as Wil Andersen and Sean Kelly as Stuttering Bob - Cowboy riding on horses surrounded by their herd of cattle L-R: John Wayne as Wil Andersen and Sean Kelly as Stuttering Bob – Cowboy | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Mark Rydell’s The Cowboys follows a rancher named Wil Andersen (Wayne) when he has no other choice but to hire young and inexperienced boys as cowhands for an important mission. He plans to get his herd to a market in time to sell, although the trip is full of dangers, including a gang run by Long Hair (Bruce Dern).

Wayne’s Andersen died from gunshot wounds in a brutal final showdown against Dern’s Long Hair.

‘The Shootist’ (1976)

'The Shootist' John Wayne as J.B. Books riding a horse holding out his gun John Wayne as J.B. Books | Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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Don Siegel’s The Shootist finds J.B. Books (Wayne) at the end of his rope when the talented gunfighter discovers that death is closing in on him. He’s approaching his final days, so he decides to find a way to die with the most dignity and the least amount of pain possible. This leads to him taking advance of the hospitality of a widow (Lauren Bacall) and her son (Ron Howard).

The Shootist marked the last performance of Wayne’s career before his real-life death, which made this performance land particularly hard. He ultimately dies of gunshot wounds in the film.

John Wayne

The Legend Lives On: John Wayne is Still Alive!

In a world where legends never fade, we can’t help but wonder: what if John Wayne, the iconic figure of American cinema, is still with us in spirit? The Duke, known for his larger-than-life roles and undeniable charisma, continues to inspire generations.

From his unforgettable performances in classics like “True Grit” and “The Searchers” to his indomitable spirit, Wayne’s essence is woven into the fabric of Hollywood and American culture. His rugged persona, moral fortitude, and unwavering courage resonate deeply, reminding us of the values he embodied.

While we may not see him on the silver screen today, Wayne’s legacy lives on through the countless actors he inspired and the stories he helped tell. His films are timeless, bringing joy and adventure to audiences around the world.

So, as we celebrate the enduring impact of John Wayne, let’s keep his spirit alive in our hearts. Whether you’re watching one of his classics or sharing a favorite quote, remember that the legend of John Wayne will never truly die. Here’s to the Duke—forever a part of our cinematic history!

John Wayne

Why John Wayne Turned Down the Chance to Work With Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood and John Wayne are the two biggest legends in the history of Western movies, however, they never worked together. The duo did have the opportunity to work together once in the 1970s. Here’s why the film never came to fruition.

How John Wayne responded when Clint Eastwood tried to work with him

Firstly, a little background. According to the book John Wayne: The Life and Legend, it all starts with Larry Cohen. Though Cohen is not a widely known director like Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino, he’s a huge name to fans of B movies. He directed famous B movies like The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, It’s Alive, and God Told Me To. He also wrote a script called The Hostiles shortly after Eastwood released his classic High Plains Drifter.

The Hostiles was about a gambler who wins half of an estate of an older man. The gambler and the older man have to work together despite the fact that they don’t like each other. Eastwood optioned the screenplay with the intent of playing the gambler alongside Wayne as the older man.

Eastwood sent a copy of the script of The Hostiles to Wayne. Although Eastwood felt the script was imperfect, he saw its potential. However, Wayne was not interested. Eastwood pitched the film to Wayne a second time and Wayne responded with a letter. Wayne’s letter complained about High Plains Drifter. Wayne was offended by the film and its portrayal of the Old West as a cruel, violent place.

John Wayne

Ann-Margret Refused to Call John Wayne ‘Duke’ While Introducing 1 of His Movies

Ann-Margret once starred in one of John Wayne’s lesser-known movies. However, she refused to call him by his popular moniker Duke. Here’s a look at the film they made together — and why she declined to call him by a nickname.

The one time Ann-Margret and John Wayne made a movie together

Ann-Margret is probably most known for her work in musicals, specifically Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, and The Who’s Tommy. However, she also dabbled in the Western genre. She starred alongside Wayne in the mostly forgotten movie The Train Robbers.

Wayne was also known as The Duke or just Duke. According to USA Today, the nickname was derived from his childhood dog. It stuck with him for many years. It continues to be used today — even on the box covers of the DVDs for his movies.

John Wayne | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

During an interview with Interview Magazine, Ann-Margret explained why she didn’t refer to the Rio Bravo star by this famous name. “When I came to this country, first of all, mother and I didn’t know English,” she said. “I would curtsey, then say, ‘Thank you,’ and then when I was leaving, curtsey. For example, we went to Dallas to introduce a film I did with John Wayne. And I never called him Duke. I just couldn’t. That’s the way I was raised. When you meet someone, you say either Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. You stand up.”

Ann-Margret revealed she treated other famous people in much the same way. For example, she worked with director George Sidney on Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas. She always called him Mr. Sidney.

What Ann-Margret thought about John Wayne

Ann-Margret refused to use Wayne’s most famous moniker. However, she had a positive view of the actor. During an interview with Fox News, she was asked what she expected when she met Wayne. “Oh, I didn’t know what to expect,” she revealed. “But when he hugged me, it’s like the world was hugging me. He was so big and wide with that booming voice.

“We were shooting in Durango, Mexico and my parents came down to visit me,” she added. “He was so great with my parents. So absolutely welcoming and gentle with them. And anybody who was great to my parents was on a throne in my eyes.”

How the world reacted to ‘The Train Robbers’

Wayne starred in many classic Westerns, including The Searchers, Stagecoach, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. However, The Train Robbers is mostly forgotten. It didn’t gain a cult following like Once Upon a Time in the West or Dead Man. It wasn’t a critical success either, garnering a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Ann-Margret had some fond memories of making the film — even if she refused to call Wayne by his famous nickname.