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John Wayne

John Wayne tried spending more time with his son Ethan because he knew he wouldn’t see him grow up

Although he knew he was going to die, legendary actor John Wayne bravely fought his cancer. He also tried spending more time with his son Ethan Wayne, knowing he wouldn’t see him grow up.

Real name Marion Robert Morrison, John Wayne was born on May 26, 1907. He was famous for having appeared in many films during the heyday of Hollywood.

The American actor has starred in westerns and war films and has enjoyed a successful career, starring in 179 feature films and television productions. For three decades, John remained one of Hollywood’s best actors.

American actor John Wayne in a scene from « El Dorado » circa 1967. [Gauche] | Photo of John Wayne’s son, Ethan. [Centre] | Actor John Wayne pictured with his son, Ethan. [Droite] | Photo: Getty Images

Thanks to his incredible feats, the American Film Institute selected him as one of the greatest male stars in classic American cinema – a truly deserved honor.

Born in Winterset, Iowa, John grew up in Southern California. He could have become a footballer if a bodysurfing accident hadn’t cost him a football scholarship to the University of Southern California.

Subsequently, he began working for the Fox Film Corporation and appeared in minor roles before landing his first leading role in Raoul Walsh’s western « The Big Trail ». It was in this film that he earned the name John Wayne.

A studio portrait of John Wayne, circa 1955. | Photo: Getty Images

In the 1930s, John Wayne played lead roles in many westerns, but he did not become a big star. However, after his performance in John Ford’s film « Stagecoach » in 1939, he became a real star.

Other westerns John has starred in include “Red River,” “The Searchers,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” and “True Grit,” which won him the Oscar for Best Actor. He also appeared in « The Quiet Man », « Rio Bravo » and « The Longest Day ».

John’s last on-screen performance was in the 1976 film « The Shootist », where he played an aging gunslinger battling cancer. Her last public appearance was at the Academy Awards on April 9, 1979.

Two months after this appearance, he died at 72 from stomach cancer on June 11. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Nicknamed Duke, John was a dedicated actor, which helped him rise to the top of his career. He showed his passion for his profession during the shooting of the movie « The Sons of Katie Elder », in 1965.

Before John starts shooting the movie, he’s diagnosed with lung cancer. Despite the chilling nature of such a diagnosis, the legendary actor was determined not to let it disrupt his career. He therefore continued to tour while treating his cancer.

John Wayne tried spending more time with his son Ethan because he knew he  wouldn't see him grow up - US Sports

Dean Martin was John’s co-star in the film and saw how he coped with the diagnosis while on set. He was inspired by John’s courage and shared his thoughts on that experience.

He said someone else could have felt sorry for him, but John didn’t know how to get sick and he recovered the hard way.

John also trained Ethan well and made sure he never failed to do the housework.

Besides his career, another thing John loved so much was his family. He married three times in his life and had seven children.

His first wife was Josephine Saenz, with whom he was married from 1933 to 1945. A year after their divorce, he married Esperanza Baur, but they divorced in 1954.

John’s third wife is Pilar Pallete, whom he married in 1954. She was an avid tennis player and encouraged him to build the John Wayne Tennis Club in Newport Beach, California. The club was then sold and renamed Palisades Tennis Club.

John’s marriage to Pallete was the longest. He separated from her in 1973 and exempted her from his will. In the meantime, his first wife, Saenz, has been bequeathed part of his fortune. John’s children are also beneficiaries of his estate worth $ 6.85 million.

John and Saenz shared three children, Mary Antonia Wayne LaCava, Patrick Wayne and Melinda Wayne Munoz. John did not have children with Baur, but shared three other children, Aissa Wayne, Ethan Wayne and Marisa Wayne, with Pallete.

Some of John’s children followed his path by venturing into the film and television industry. Ethan played the role of John Ethan Wayne in a few movies and starred in the 90s update of the « Adam-12 » television series.

By the way, John’s granddaughter, Jennifer Wayne, Aissa’s daughter, is a member of the country music group « Runaway June ».

John loved spending time with his family and particularly loved the Christmas period. Her family opened up about her love for Christmas in a 2016 interview.

John’s daughter, Marisa, said her father loved Christmas, and that they had a huge living room, which was so filled with gifts during the holiday season that you couldn’t walk through it. In addition, John loved buying gifts for his family and took decorating the tree very seriously.

Although he has been dead for many years, the memory of John continues to live on in the hearts and minds of his family, especially his children, who still remember living in his shadow.

In a 2018 interview with Fox News, Ethan recalled growing up with his father. Ethan is the president of John Wayne Enterprises and the director of the John Wayne Foundation.

During the interview, he recalled going to a friend’s house. He observed that his friend’s family’s mailbox contained only three letters, which was so different from his, which was still filled with thousands of letters. From then on, he understood that his father was different.

Ethan explained that although his father was a huge superstar, he lived a normal life. For example, her father did not use security services or bodyguards and answered the door and the phone himself.

John also trained Ethan well and made sure he never forgets to do the housework. Ethan also revealed that his father knew he could die before he was a young man. Therefore, he was determined to be a present father to his children. He said :

« I was homeschooled locally in Mexico because he knew he wouldn’t be there for me when I was older, and that he would probably lose me when I was a young, adolescent. »

Ethan describes his father as a daring, outgoing, lively, constantly moving forward individual, and an excellent rider. He concludes by expressing the hope that people will remember John for the artist he was.

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.

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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.

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John Wayne

True Crime on Amazon Prime: ‘Lorena’ Reexamines a 90s Tabloid Sensation

True crime might not be the first type of show that comes to mind when you think of the offerings on Amazon Prime Video. The perpetually buzzy genre is usually more associated with the likes of Netflix and HBO.

However, the streaming service boasts at least one standout docuseries from 2019. It’s one that can scratch the true crime itch for fans, but also give them a much needed new perspective on a well-worn tabloid sensation from the 1990s.

‘Lorena’ was produced by Jordan Peele of ‘Get Out’ fame

Jordan Peele, Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke, and Lorena Gallo attend the 'Lorena' Premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.Jordan Peele, Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke, and Lorena Gallo attend the ‘Lorena’ Premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. | Rich Fury/Getty Images

Lorena, as the simple, to-the-point title suggests, chronicles the sordid story of Lorena and Jon Bobbit. The series was produced by Jordan Peele, the comedian-turned-director best known for Get Out and Us, and released on Amazon Prime Video in early 2019 following a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

In 1993, Lorena Bobbitt infamously cut her husband, John Wayne Bobbitt’s penis off in his sleep with a kitchen carving knife. She drove off with it, tossed it out the car window into a field, and eventually called 911 to report the incident. After a search followed by 9.5 hours of surgery, John Bobbitt was able to get his penis reattached and functioning normally.

Thanks in large part to the salacious and sexual nature of the Bobbittss story, it quickly became a tabloid and late-night talk show sensation. Sadly, as one might expect from a male-dominated culture, the media spectacle largely focused on John Bobbitt as a sympathetic victim and cast Lorena as a hysterical victim. John Bobbitt went on to become something of a cult figure for a time, even starring in two pornographic films.

Part of the mission statement of Lorena, the series, was to use the true crime format to recontextualize the Lorena Bobbitt story. Despite the prevailing perception of the incident beforehand, in reality, John Bobbitt had subjected Lorena to years of domestic abuse and rape, up to and including the night of her attack.

John Bobbitt was eventually acquitted on rape charges. Lorena Bobbitt was found not guilty by a jury for reasons of insanity.

“25 years later, Lorena is a groundbreaking re-investigation of the deep moral issues and painful human tragedies buried at the heart of this infamous American scandal,” Amazon’s official description of the series reads, as reported by Deadline. “Lost in the tabloid coverage and jokes was the opportunity for a national discussion on domestic and sexual assault in America.”

Lorena saw a positive reaction upon its release, currently boasting an 82% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was the biggest project yet from director Joshua Rofé, who previously helmed Lost for Life, a documentary about juvenile offenders sentenced to life in prison.

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