John Wayne

Get To Know Hollywood Royalty Brendan Wayne, John Wayne’s Grandson

It is confirmed! Brendan Wayne has ties to the popular Hollywood icon John Wayne – whose acting and directing career spanned four decades. John Wayne has starred in many Westerns, such as Stagecoach, The Longest Day, and True Grit. He is considered today one of the greatest actors in the history of Hollywood.

RELATED: Discover John Wayne: The Legendary Cowboy of Western Films
Well, it turns out John Wayne and Brendan Wayne are family. And he’s no less John Wayne’s grandson.
Brendan Wayne, whose real name is Daniel Brendan La Cava, was born on February 8, 1972, in Encino, Los Angeles. His mother, Mary Antonia Wayne, was one of John Wayne’s seven children.

While John Wayne passed away in 1979 – only seven years after Brendan was born – he has some early memories of the legendary actor, whom Brendan said wanted to be called “granddaddy.”
In fact, Brendan thinks of John Wayne differently from what the world might remember of him. While one would probably think of John Wayne in a cowboy hat or donning an eye patch or a fearless man riding a horse, Brendan’s image of him is shirtless on a boat as they fish together – “which I know is a very different visual image than the rest of the world has,” the actor said.

Brendan Wayne Put In Work To Hone His Craft

Of course, being born into a lineage of the greatest American Western icon often cast a frightening shadow, so Brendan Wayne chose early on to embrace it. He enrolled in the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts and began making advances in the entertainment business during his teenage years.

And just like his iconic grandfather, Brendan entered the University of Southern California, where he majored in film.
Brendan started acting in the early 2000s and landed several roles in different popular television shows such as Cold Case, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mouth of Caddo, Angel and the Bad Man, as well as on the big screen, including Fast & Furious, and Couples Retreat, among others.
Brendan admitted that his mother quickly pointed out how intense the experience would be the moment he would pursue acting. She knows that no matter how many years since legendary actor John Wayne has died, people will always expect more from Brendan.
“If you’re gonna do it, you better know everything because they’re gonna expect you to because you’re the Duke’s grandson,” Brendan’s mother told him.

Brendan has even chosen not to use his grandfather’s last name (or, technically, his stage name since John Wayne’s real name was actually Marion Morrison). However, six years into the entertainment business and after some prompting from his team and his father’s advice, Brendan eventually went with Wayne.
He Found Fame In A Role That Might Have Surprised The Duke

While Brendan Wayne appeared in several popular shows, his greatest achievement was definitely his role in the Western science fiction mash-up Cowboys and Aliens – directed by American actor and filmmaker Jon Favreau.

Despite being nowhere near the top-billed ensembled cast, which included Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, and Olivia Wilde, his link to John Wayne and good looks brought quite a bit of attention to Brendan.
In the action-packed sci-fi movie, Brendan played the role of Deputy Charlie Lyle in a small 1875 New Mexico town that varmints from another planet have attacked. Brendan also performed his own stunts – jumping on a horse, showing what he is truly made of.
In 2019, Brendan Wayne secured one of the most sought-after roles, Pedro Pascal’s double, in which he wore the bounty hunter’s armor for many scenes.

He has since played a major part in the success of The Mandalorian, the first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise in Disney+. The Mandalorian is also created by Jon Favreau, who is also one of its executive producers and directors.

Brendan revealed that he went through screen tests for The Mandalorian channeling his grandfather’s popular mannerisms. Brendan said he noticed that the team wanted “a very Western kind of feel.” So, he slowed everything, including how he walked and was as graceful as his grandfather.
Well, without a doubt, Brendan Wayne has kept the legacy alive – not only being John Wayne’s grandson but being the great, talented actor that he is.

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.