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John Wayne’s winningest Oscar moments are as good as gold.
Written by Jenn Thornton
No one needs reminding that the Academy Awards has taken on a life of its own, with red carpets, over-the-top outfits and, in 1974, actual streaking—a moment parodied at the 2024 Oscars when a strategically covered John Cena presented the award for, ahem, Best Costume. But even with the brightest lights in the showbiz universe all gathered in the same place at the same time on Hollywood’s biggest night, there is only ever one real star of the show—Oscar itself.
Premiering at the first Academy Awards on May 16, 1929—the same year that cinematic upstart “Duke Morrison” appeared in five films—the show was not the frothy spectacle it is today. It wasn’t even a show. It was banquet tables, not baubles, that marked what was in fact a private dinner at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Guests numbered 270, tickets sold for $5 a pop and the whole shebang wrapped up in 15 minutes. Since that auspicious beginning, some 3,000-plus gold statuettes have been handed out and “Oscar” is one of the most recognizable brands on Earth.
So too is the man who took home the Oscar for Best Actor at the 42nd Academy Awards in 1970. From prop man to stuntman to box-office draw for decades, John Wayne finally scored the statuette for his portrayal of the famously cantankerous Rooster Cogburn in True Grit (1970). In a primer to that iconic moment, the Duke dazzled the crowd in the show’s opening, where master of ceremonies Bob Hope appeared in black tie and Rooster’s eye patch. When it came time to collect the trophy that had long eluded him, a grateful Wayne used his acceptance speech to poke a little fun of himself, saying, “Wow! If I’d have known that, I would have put that patch on thirty-five years earlier.”
“Wow! If I’d have known that, I would have put that patch on thirty-five years earlier.”
John Wayne
Given that Wayne was a staple at many Academy Awards ceremonies through the years, fans of the actor will find no shortage of Oscar-worthy moments at their fingertips. A quick online search avails a highlight reel of his greatest hits. Among them are Wayne’s appearances in support of his colleagues, including master American filmmaker Howard Hawks, his director on five films, Red River (1948), Rio Bravo (1959), Hatari! (1962), El Dorado (1966), and Rio Lobo (1970). Here, Wayne presents an Honorary Award to Howard Hawks at the 1975 Academy Awards.
Never one to get too big for his britches, despite his megawatt fame, Wayne did plenty of stand-in work for his Oscar-winning pals too—more than once, and even twice at the 25th Academy Awards in 1953. On that occasion, when the actor’s frequent director and friend John Ford was named Best Director for The Quiet Man (1952), Wayne accepted the Oscar on Ford’s behalf. And, when the Oscar for Best Actor went to Gary Cooper for High Noon (1952), Wayne accepted for “Coop” with some good-natured speculation about casting.
Of the Duke’s numerous Oscar moments, one of the most moving came posthumously. Not in one of the Academy Awards misty-eye montages, but in the form of the elegant Irish lass Maureen O’Hara, Duke’s fiery co-star in five films, most memorably The Quiet Man. In a poignant speech at the 2014 Governors Awards, O’Hara thanked her leading man. Many years earlier, at a celebrity event, O’Hara serenaded Wayne in a tribute to their genuine friendship and chemistry.
Thanks to the Information Age, there are countless nuggets from Hollywood’s Golden Age to enjoy. A few clicks and John Wayne fans will discover a little Oscar gold of their own.
