Try as we might, it’s just not possible to perfectly encapsulate the “True Grit” of Marion Robert Morrison. Better known as John Wayne or “The Duke,” the star captivated audiences worldwide during the Golden Age in Hollywood with his Western and war portrayals. Even after his passing in ’79, his fandom continued to grow. It still spans far and wide across all generations both domestically and internationally. That becomes very apparent on one day, in particular, every year: Halloween.

The John Wayne Estate planned ahead for that this year, taking to Instagram to ask fans a favor. They encouraged anyone trying to encapsulate his likeness to share their costume to the Estate page. The reward? A chance to be featured on their Instagram page to over 200k followers. And, boy, those fans delivered this Halloween.

Young and old, furry or otherwise, here’s the result:

The Instagram page for the John Wayne Estate also shared several other contenders’ costumes to their Story. One of these includes a horse named Rooster Cogburn fit with a solid eyepatch paying homage to the ’75 flick of the same namesake.

How Much Did the Entire ‘True Grit’ Outfit Go For At an Auction a Decade Ago?

If you want to dress up in authentic John Wayne garb, it might cost you a pretty penny. Apparently, Rooster Cogburn’s full get-up went for over $160k back in 2011. Sources authenticated it as the same costume worn by John Wayne in the original ’69 film and its subsequent sequel in ’75. The films came as an adaptation of Charles Portis’ novel of the same name.

Not only was the film revered by critics, but it also led to both an Oscar and Golden Globe award as well. The John Wayne Estate put up this Golden Globe as part of their mass auction including several pieces from his iconic wardrobe.

Another Epic Tribute

While some fans like to show their support for John Wayne’s legacy through their costumes, other fans opt to show off their dedication in a more permanent way. Ben Fisher is a tattoo artist that captured a timelapse of a John Wayne piece he did for one die-hard fan a couple of years ago.

Though the fan chose to stick to black ink, the detail of the piece is immaculate. It shows off John Wayne’s gritty stare as he rocks a cowboy hat and neckerchief. It also includes the year 1926 which IMDb credits as the start of John Wayne’s career in filmography.

The video shows all aspects of the tattooing process starting with the initial sketch and placement on the client’s right forearm. Does your dedication go that far?

Check it out here:

If you decide to dress up like John Wayne for Halloween, there’s a chance you can get featured on the Instagram page for his estate.

The great John Wayne made appearances in many Western films during his time on top of Hollywood. As a matter of fact, Wayne is widely considered to be one of the most popular actors of all time. Often referred to as one of his many nicknames like “The Duke,” Wayne has played a role in more than 80 movies. However, is his best known for all of his Western and war movies.

It makes sense that people want to dress up like him for Halloween, right? It’s safe to say that hundreds of people every year get dressed up has The Duke before heading out for their Halloween festivities. That could be in the form of a kid trick-or-treating, or an adult at a Halloween party. But Wayne has fans both young and old, from every generation.

If there was ever a year to dress up like John Wayne it would be 2021. Not only can you enjoy the evening as a cowboy, but the experience could be all the more special if you get featured on the John Wayne Official Instagram page. Take a look at the post down below for instructions.

“If you’re dressing up as John Wayne this weekend, make sure to tag @johnwayneofficial and we’ll share your costume on our Stories!”

Some fans of John Wayne will no doubt dress up like him and send photos to the Instagram page. But not everyone will partake out of respect.

“I am not worthy. Nor are any others,” one fan said.

“I have too much respect,” another person commented.

It’s Easy to Put Together a John Wayne Halloween Costume

That’s right, folks — it’s probably easier than you may think to put together a rock-solid John Wayne costume for the holiday.

But what makes it able to be so easily put together? One of those reasons is the fact that he has played so many different characters throughout his illustrious career. That means that you probably even have some items available to use in your home right now.

You can come up with your own cowboy character with some of your very own clothes and props. Some of those may include things like chaps, hats, vests, cowboy boots, a duster, and a sheriff’s badge. And don’t forget to add a pair of spurs and a bandana to complete the look.

Step two? Swagger and drawl. You won’t be completely finished once you have the basics of your costume complete. After that is done, the way you make it come alive is with some of that trademark John Wayne swagger and drawl.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of John Wayne’s 1971 film Big Jake, the legendary actor’s estate is teasing an upcoming McCandles Family Reunion.

By 1971, The Duke had already starred in what seems like countless classic western films. In fact, he had already worked with director George Sherman on numerous western projects. But Big Jake would be Sherman’s last film of his long directing career. Although critics reviewed the movie with mixed results, it grossed $7.5 million in the US, which made it one of the most successful films of the year.

The McCandles family bands together to help return Big Jake’s grandson who was kidnapped for ransom. John Wayne’s lead role character is joined by his sons who set off to deliver the kidnapper’s ransom. But the McCandles clan has no intention of handing over the money without a fight.

Now that five decades have passed, John Wayne’s estate is bringing some of the cast back together again. The iconic actor’s sons Patrick Wayne (James MCCandles) and Ethan Wayne (Little Jake) both had starring roles in the 1971 film. Additionally, another Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum’s son, Christopher Mitchum, portrayed Michael McCandles.

All three men are making an appearance at the upcoming reunion. It takes place in Fort Worth, Texas on Nov. 3 with a pre-reception cocktail hour and a live panel interview with the actors. If interested, you can get more information and purchase tickets here.

“‘Not hardly.’ Never underestimate Jacob McCandles… or the whole McCandles family. Join us November 3rd for the McCandles Family Reunion! A live panel featuring Patrick Wayne, Ethan Wayne, and Chris Mitchum,” John Wayne’s official Instagram account wrote.

John Wayne’s Son Patrick Reveals How He Named His Son

Speaking of John Wayne’s son Patrick, he recently revealed in his new podcast that he used one of his dad’s unused nicknames to name his child. That’s right, The Duke’s grandson is named after his grandfather in a roundabout sort of way.

While Wayne’s children haven’t shared the spotlight in Hollywood anywhere close to their father, many of them have acted as well. Patrick Wayne has starred in more than 40 movies over the years, including sharing the screen with his famous dad in 11 films.

While his father’s fans may not know The Duke’s family well, they’re getting to know his children better these days. Wayne’s son Ethan has created The John Wayne Gritcast, a podcast that dives into all things John Wayne. During the debut episode, Ethan’s siblings Patrick and Marisa were special guests. While Wayne’s children spoke about their life with their Hollywood dad, Patrick shared the origin story of his son Anthony’s name.

“Raoul Walsh was going to name my dad, he was gonna name him Anthony Wayne,” Patrick explained. “But then, ya know, they called him ‘Mad Anthony Wayne’ after the general in the Revolutionary War. So they said, ‘Wayne, yeah, but we’ll call him John Wayne. So I named my son Anthony Wayne.”