John Wayne

John Wayne: Meet the Hollywood Icon’s Three Sons

John Wayne may be known as a legendary actor on screen, but meet his three sons who followed in their father’s footsteps.

After being married three different times, he is similar to Clint Eastwood with his many children that would rival the Brady Bunch.

John Wayne Marriages

The actor first married Josephine Saenz in 1933, when he was just 26-years-old. By 1945 the two called it quits, and a year later, Wayne tied the knot with Esperanza Baur.

Baur and Wayne stayed together for 8 years but ultimately broke things off in 1954. The same year, John married for the last time to Pilar Pallete. In 1973, the two moved into separate homes. However, they were never legally separated or divorce.

John Wayne has seven children, although two have unfortunately died.

With Josephine, Wayne had four children, including the late Michael and Mary Antonia ‘Toni’ Wayne. The other two children are Patrick and Melinda.

The actor did not have any children with Esperanza but had three more kids with Pilar Pallete. They include Aissa, John Ethan, and Marisa.

Let’s take a better look at the iconic cowboy’s sons.

Maureen O’Hara, John Wayne, Ethan Wayne, Michael Wayne, Patrick Wayne, and Christopher Mitchum (Robert Mitchum’s son), Big Jake (1972). This was the last film John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara made together. #DailyMaureen pic.twitter.com/09s0qUFyd9— ✨ Hollywood Yesterday ✨ (@HollywoodYeste1) January 8, 2020

Michael Wayne

John Wayne’s first child was Michael. He was born November 23, 1934, when John was 27-years-old. Like his father, Michael became a producer and actor. Although he didn’t go to college for acting or film, he first worked on set as a production assistant to his father’s friend’s movie The Quiet Man in 1951. Michael worked closely with his father and even produced many of his films.

In addition, Michael Wayne was the president and chairman of the John Wayne Foundation. He was also the founder and chairman of the board for the John Wayne Cancer Institute, which was created after John battled stomach cancer for over a decade.

Michael Wayne, unfortunately, died at the age of 68 due to heart failure from complications with lupus erythematosus.

Patrick Wayne

Patrick Wayne is the second son of Josephine and John, born July 15, 1939. He is also an actor with over 40 films under his belt. He worked with his father for eleven of them.

After creating movies, Patrick moved on to become a TV host for shows like The Monte Carlo Show in the 1980s and Tic-Tac-Dough in the 1990s.

He also made appearances on TV shows through the 1970 and 80s. Some include hit shows like Shirley, Fantasy Island, Murder, She Wrote, Charlie’s Angels, Sledge Hammer!, and The Love Boat.

Patrick took over as the chairman of the John Wayne Cancer Institute after his brother died in 2003.

John Wayne loved having his family with him on set and the children would travel all over the world to be with their dad. Do you know what set Michael & Patrick Wayne were visiting in this photo? 📷 #JohnWayneTrivia pic.twitter.com/XZwNGVVkX9— John Wayne Official (@JohnDukeWayne) March 30, 2019

John Ethan Wayne

Finally, John Ethan Wayne was born February 22, 1962, as John and Pilar’s son. The Duke’s youngest son is known professionally as Ethan Wayne.

Like his half-brothers and father, Ethan worked in the entertainment industry. He was an actor and stuntman in major films like Scream and The Blues Brothers. His most recent movie was Red Slate in 2011, where he was a stuntman.

Ethan also appeared as a prominent cast member on the 1980s soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

The 58-year-old now managed John Wayne Enterprises. In addition, he serves as the director of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Ethan also created its Team DUKE fundraising program.

Although the legendary actor died in 1979, we are sure he would be very proud of the talented and decorated actors he has raised.

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.