John Wayne

Inside John Wayne’s Newport Beach Home He ‘Sure as Hell Couldn’t Afford’ Later

John Wayne is an American legend who remains one of the few timeless faces of the Western film genre. He finally won the only Oscar of his career for 1969’s True Grit, but he has over 180 acting credits to his name. However, the actor was always unapologetically himself. Wayne also expressed this attitude regarding his Newport Beach home, which he said he “sure as hell couldn’t afford” if he tried to purchase it later.

John Wayne sold his 5-acre ranch in Encino

Wayne once entertained his Hollywood friends in his Encino home, which was a five-acre ranch. It was a corner lot offering stunning views. However, Wayne ultimately fell in love with the Newport Beach area and decided to make the move there. He sold the home to the oldest daughter of Walt Disney in 1966.

Wayne lived in the Encino home at 4750 Louise Avenue along with his wife, Pilar, and their three children. However, it went under construction in 2006 to build a huge multi-story residence in its place. This location will always be an iconic piece of history in Wayne’s history, but he moved into a home that he truly loved.

Inside John Wayne’s Newport Beach home

Architectural Digest reported on Wayne’s Newport Beach home. It had a large, older station wagon parked near the front entrance. Location is everything, and Wayne’s home was at the water’s edge facing Balboa Island. Architectural Digest described the home itself as “simple and unpretentious … There is nothing to suggest that this is the private world of a superstar, the home of an American legend.”

At the time of Wayne’s home tour, he already lived in Newport Beach for 14 years. Ever since then, real estate prices skyrocketed. “I’m glad I came down here to live 14 years ago,” Wayne said. “I sure as hell couldn’t afford it now.”

The largest room in Wayne’s Newport Beach home was the study. It had paneling, a fireplace, a collection of guns, Western American art, and American Indian artifacts. He had memorabilia covering the room, including photographs and plaques marking the most notable moments from his film career.

Wayne’s home included a wall he called the “50 years of hard Work Wall,” where he kept awards, including his lead actor Oscar for True Grit. This is also where he kept photographs of his great friendships, including with John Ford, Henry Fonda, and Ward Bond.

Wayne collected his furniture and art from the various places he filmed his movies over the course of 30 years. This includes furniture from Madrid, porcelain jardinieres from Honolulu, and antiques from Colorado Springs. Venturing into such shops is how he spent his downtime on movie sets.

“There is a porcelain table with a pedestal base, now on the terrace at Newport Beach, that he found in one of the poorest sections of Puerto Vallarta,” AD wrote. “While making a film in Fort Benning, Georgia, he came across a favorite Empire table.”

The actor didn’t care what people thought about his sense of style

Wayne especially appreciated his home, because of the huge amount of time he spent on movie sets. “You often have to stay for a couple of months in some horrible motel room,” Wayne said. “Well, I like to put a few familiar things on the wall. I try to dress the place up a little, make it seem more like home.”

Not everybody appreciated Wayne’s sense of style. However, Wayne explained that their opinions didn’t matter much to him.

“Look, I find things that appeal to me, and I try to blend them in here,” Wayne said. “I don’t give a damn whether anyone else likes them or not. But I think I’ve done a pretty fair job.”

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.