During his career, John Wayne was in high demand. Beyond the Hollywood executives who wanted to attach the name “John Wayne” to their next big project, those who got to know Duke both on set and off were often struck by his warm and welcoming presence.
He befriended countless co-stars and crew members as well as plenty of folks outside the film industry who were among the biggest and brightest stars of the era. To John Wayne, though, they were simply people who, like him, knew that a good time is always better when shared in the company of others. In Volume 34 of The Official John Wayne Collector’s Edition, get to know Duke for the loyal friend and honest man that he was.
Ward Bond : rom their days on the gridiron at USC to the sets of John Ford films, John Wayne and Ward Bond were destined to become the best of friends. The experience of rising through the ranks of Hollywood made Duke and Bond incredibly close, as the two went from working as extras to leading men over the course of 23 shared films. John Wayne’s career would of course ascend to unknown heights over the years, and Bond stuck by the star not for a ride on his coattails, but for the friendship they had built.
Even after being struck by a car and struggling to stand on crutches, Bond carries out his duties as best man at Duke’s wedding. And in 1960, following Bond’s untimely death, John Wayne delivered a moving eulogy at his longtime pal’s funeral, saying, “We were the closest of friends, from school right on through…He was a wonderful, generous, big-hearted man .”
Maureen O’Hara :Not only was she the cinematic ingredient that took Duke’s scenes from memorable to magic, Maureen O’Hara was also one of the legend’s closest friends. Whether sharing a climactic kiss in The Quiet Man (1952), running through the mud in McLintock! (1963), or reuniting as estranged spouses in Rio Grande (1950) and Big Jake (1971), O’Hara and John Wayne were electric each time they appeared together.
As the actress recalls after Duke’s passing, “Our [on-screen] chemistry was so magical because Duke never had to defer to me as a woman. I was strong enough to stand up to him and be his equal.” And John Wayne indeed viewed O’Hara as both his equal and friend, as the icon once boasted her as “the greatest guy I ever met.”
Kirk Douglas :Sharing the screen in the reflective war films In Harm’s Way (1965) and Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) as well as in the rip-roaring Western The War Wagon (1967), John Wayne and Kirk Douglas only needed a trio of films to demonstrate their strengths as a duo. And while the two top-notch actors brought their A-game every moment the cameras were rolling, much of their chemistry was established between takes as the two were known to spend much of their spare time as chess opponents.