John Wayne

‘The Mandalorian’: John Wayne’s Grandson Does Not ‘Think’ He’s ‘Allowed to Say’ How Much He Actually Appears as Din Djarin

On The Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal plays the show’s main character, Din Djarin. While Pascal provides the voice for Din and is in the character’s suit some of the time, The Mandalorian uses multiple body doubles for the character during filming. John Wayne‘s grandson Brendan Wayne is one of the body doubles for Din on The Mandalorian. In a 2019 interview with Vulture, Brendan Wayne shared that he is actually onscreen as the character “frequently,” but he does not “think” he’s “allowed to say” exactly how much screentime he has.

John Wayne’s grandson is a body double for Pedro Pascal’s character on ‘The Mandalorian’

John Wayne was known for his iconic roles in Westerns, cementing himself as a Hollywood legend. While the actor died in 1979, his legendary performances in films like Stagecoach, True Grit, and The Longest Day are still heralded as some of the best in the industry.

Like his grandfather, Brendan Wayne also set out to become an actor. In 2019, he began playing a body double of the main character in The Mandalorian on Disney+.

“My agent said, ‘You won’t be the voice,’ and I said, ‘I don’t care. What am I doing though? I do not want to sit around. Get me going — let me run into a wall, whatever you want. Throw me from a building — totally fine. You know, hurt me, but don’t make me sit around all day,’” Brendan Wayne told Vulture about joining The Mandalorian.

While Brendan Wayne does not get as much credit as Pascal does for his work on The Mandalorian, he told Vulture that he can tell which scenes of him are included on the show.

“I will say, Yes, I can. Will I tell you which places? No. But if you were at my house, hanging out with us, my kids will tell you, and they’ve been right 100 percent of the time,” he said.

Brendan Wayne does not ‘think’ he’s ‘allowed to say’ how much he is onscreen in ‘The Mandalorian’

Because Pascal was shooting multiple projects during filming for season 1 of The Mandalorian, he was not on set as much as some fans would think.

When asked how much he was actually onscreen in season 1 of The Mandalorian, Brendan Wayne admitted he was probably not “allowed to say.”

“I don’t think I’m allowed to say, honestly. I don’t. But I will say it’s very rewarding because I see it frequently,” Brendan Wayne told Vulture.

Din Djarin is inadvertently modeled after John Wayne on ‘The Mandalorian’

When playing Din on The Mandalorian, Brendan Wayne made sure to take inspiration from John Wayne.

“I noticed that in the screen test that they wanted a very Western kind of feel. So I just slowed everything down. All my walks, everything…,” Brendan Wayne said in the interview with Vulture. “My grandfather was so graceful, even though he was a six-foot-five, 260-pound guy, and it was because he was so strong… And so he walked with his toes, like a dancer. So I picked it up. It was really fun to find that pacing.”

After taking inspiration from his grandfather, Brendan Wayne’s physical acting is what Pascal and the other body doubles are told to model during filming.

“… Pedro had to ask me certain questions, because I guess they would say, ‘Talk to Brendan and see what he says.’ Almost all of [the doubles], they had to come watch me walk — I think there were four at the end of it. And I did a lot of work to be able to walk like I did in the sand and not look like a drunk sailor,” Brendan Wayne told Vulture.

The first two seasons of The Mandalorian are available to stream on Disney+.

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.