John Wayne

John Wayne’s heartbreaking message on tomb not seen by public for 20 years

JOHN WAYNE’s tomb was meant to be inscribed with a heartbreaking message, a note not known about by the public for 20 years over fears his grave could be raided, unearthed accounts show.

Western legend John Wayne’s iconic turn in the 1969 classic True Grit airs today on ITV4 at 1.50pm. The Hollywood actor stars as the one-eyed US Marshal Rooster Cogburn, who is persuaded to track down a killer after a young girl finds out her father has been robbed and murdered. It is one of Hollywood’s most cherished westerns, and boasts an incredible cast, with the likes of Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper starring opposite Wayne.

For his role, Wayne also won the Oscar his career demanded, collecting the Best Actor gong in 1970.

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes said the film had achieved 89 percent positive ratings, adding: “True Grit rides along on the strength of a lived-in late-period John Wayne performance, adding its own entertaining spin to the oft-adapted source material.”

Wayne was already a household name, with the star going on to appear in nearly 150 films and TV productions during a long and distinguished career.

Cinema fans the world over were left heartbroken, however, when Wayne passed away aged 72 in 1979 from stomach cancer.

John Wayne's heartbreaking message on tomb not seen by public for 20 years

John Wayne’s heartbreaking message on tomb not seen by public for 20 years (Image: GETTY)

John Wayne appears in True Grit on Saturday

John Wayne appears in True Grit on Saturday (Image: GETTY)

Those who had followed his career were unable to say their goodbyes after Wayne’s family decided to hide his grave’s location amid fears robbers could target it.

In 2016’s Grave Tidings: An Anthology of Famous Last Words, author Paul Berra discussed what was originally placed on Wayne’s grace.

A report from Berra suggested that Wayne “wanted a Spanish epitaph engraved on his grave”, with the words “Feo, Fuerte, y Formal” placed on it.

This translated into English as “ugly, strong and dignified”.

John Wayne coined the term the Big C

John Wayne coined the term the Big C (Image: GETTY)

He continued: “However, his children, Patrick and Ethan Wayne, left him in an unmarked grave.

“They didn’t want grave robbers or the public to crowd his resting place.

“It ran the risk of becoming a tourist spot or a shrine, which they didn’t want.”

Some two decades later, the Wayne family had a change of heart, and in the end placed a plaque on his grave, but not with the words he wished for.

John Wayne and Kirk Douglas

John Wayne and Kirk Douglas (Image: GETTY)

Instead, they took a quote from an infamous Playboy interview he had made decades before.

It now reads: “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean.

“It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.”

Married three times and divorced twice, Wayne had seven children in total, including his daughter Aissa, who once recalled her final encounter with her father.

In his final days, Wayne’s battle with stomach cancer became worse, and as he deteriorated, he was asked by Aissa whether he knew who she was.

He replied: “Of course, I know who you are.

“You’re my girl. I love you.”

Wayne coined the term The Big C in 1964, to describe cancer, years before he passed.

Wayne had his left lung removed as a result of his condition, as well as four ribs.

While he began his recovery well, he continued smoking and chewing tobacco, and sadly died just before the turn of the Eighties.

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.