John Wayne

John Wayne Came up With the Term ‘the Big C’ for Canc*r

John Wayne has many iconic quotes in his movie career. However, the saying that has carried on the most isn’t one that came from one of his many westerns. In his later years, Wayne was dealing with cancer and came up with a less scary term for the illness. People use “The Big C” a lot to refer to cancer, but many do not know that it was initially coined by John Wayne.

John Wayne has many iconic quotes from his movies

Wayne (born Marion Morrison) starred in over 170 movies. Many of these movies were westerns, including Stagecoach, The Searchers, Rio Grande, True Grit, Red River, Hondo, and The Lonely Trail. While known for embodying the cowboy persona, he did star in several movies across the spectrum of genres.

Throughout his career, he had several iconic quotes that are fondly remembered in cinema history. This includes “Whoa, take ‘er easy there, Pilgrim” from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway” from True Grit. However, his most memorable quote might be one he came up with himself.

John Wayne coined the term ‘The Big C’ to deal with his cancer battle

Today is World Lung Cancer Day, a day dedicated to bringing awareness to the impact of lung cancer. 🫁 John Wayne was one of the first actors to bring awareness to cancer and even coined it “The Big C”. He was advised not to talk about having cancer, as it could hurt his image pic.twitter.com/TbYiQfIlxf— John Wayne Official (@JohnDukeWayne) August 1, 2022

Many people use “The Big C” to refer to cancer more casually, making it seem less frightening. However, many don’t know that the first person to use this phrase was the western star. According to Mental Floss, in the early 1960s, John Wayne was battling lung cancer and was worried Hollywood would stop casting him if they knew about his illness. After undergoing an operation that removed a rib and half of one lung, Wayne called a press conference in 1964 in his living room where he first used the term.

“They told me to withhold my cancer operation from the public because it would hurt my image,” the actor told reporters. “Isn’t there a good image in John Wayne beating cancer? Sure, I licked the Big C.”

In her book John Wayne: A Father, Aissa Wayne said this was the only time she ever heard him refer to the disease as cancer, even when he got it again 15 years later. Wayne beat lung cancer, but “The Big C” was found again later in his stomach. Wayne lost his second battle with “The Big C” on June 11, 1979, at the age of 72.

John Wayne’s last words were shared by his daughter

Outsider reports that John Wayne spent his final days in the hospital after his stomach cancer worsened. The hospital tried to make him as healthy as possible, but the efforts ultimately failed. He spent his final days going in and out of consciousness but was surrounded by his family.

His daughter, Aissa, was at his side at the time of his death. She asked her father if he knew who she was, to which he responded, “Of course, I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.” His final words proved that the western tough guy still had a sensitive side to him.

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.