What caused the death of the movie star John Wayne?

so why didnt they put what he wanted on his tombstone instead of some interview quote..thats totally disrespectful . John Wayne was a wonderful western actor and was my favorite.

He was the greatest Western actor ever born!

the Duke 😪

FoulBerserker54124, He did smoke five packs of cigarettes a day , and from it he developed lung cancer about 1961. He was operated on and (after the prescribed five years), he was declared cancer-free. In the mid-1970’s, he developed stomach cancer. This is believed to have resulted from the filming of “The Conquerer” in 1956. This film is notorious as it was filmed downwind of a nuclear test site. The director died of cancer, all three stars died of cancer and by 1980 a total of 91 people had developed cancer and 46 had died. John Wayne’s son Michael developed skin cancer and his brother Patrick developed a benign tumor (as did Susan Hayworth’s son.

to me his best quote was "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway "

colichi69, he wasnt a racist in the traditional definition, however sadly he was involved in that travesty of justice known as the "black list" in Hollywood which black listed certain actors and writers who were accused of being communist. he supported the blacklisting of truly gifted individuals who were assumed to be of varying religious and political opinions. Hedda Hopper, a ossip columnist and "political pot stirrer" during the years of the black list debacle spurred mr Wayne to be vocal by threatening him and his family. mr Wayne portrayed numerous military heroes while in real life he avoided the draft and any service in military during a time when the USA needed the best of the best. John Wayne was a gifted actor and a wonderful man. He was a close friend of my uncle. the went to school together and I got to meet him twice in my young life. he was a truly sweet person to spite his black list support. since the communist party black list being named thus is how he was accused of being a racist. he was in no way a racist.

I agree, it is disrespectful to leave the grave of John Wayne unmarked for so long and then put on something that wasn't requested by him

My mother-in-law was invited to his home to play cards with one of his wives... and got to watch Zorba the Greek in his home theatre!

John Wayne is to be respected for he was an honorable man, and one of the best actors of all time, IMO!!! RIP. Miss him greatly!

He got the nickname Duke from a volunteer firemen who took to greeting him walking his dog Named Duke while on his paper route.Dog was refered to as Big Duke and he was Little Duke.Soone after everyone started calling him that.

Great actor who thrilled audiences around the world

the Duke made westerns real for me

DutchCowboy1969, i’m not sure if he was the best

Lady Hollis Suzzanne, he was caught on film vocalizing racist thoughts and rants

Rebecca Gardner, he was a bigot

SenseiJohn001, that’s what should’ve been on his tombstone! ‘The Duke’

Fgsll, correct!

the 'Duke' may have gone but will not be able to be ForGodTon ▪︎~▪︎ £€¥

he was making a movie in the desert the same time they were testing nuclear weapons

ki ki ki

Rebecca Gardner, Was The Shootist His Last Movie?

Rebecca Gardner, I agree with you. They should have honored his "death wish". Lol. my apologies.

not stomach cancer, lung cancer was first. stomach was a metastasis.

For like the first time the picture didn't help

LillySparrow, Man's GREED is the root of all evil. Greed for money, greed for power, and greed for sex. Sadly, it is greed, not love, that makes the world go around.

He was a brilliant actor

i read that his grave was unmarked because that is how he wanted it. The family eventually marked it as so many people looked for it and then got upset because it wasnt marked.

Fgsll, FIVE PACKETS A DAY!?!?! GEEZ

Rebecca Gardner, probably didn't want people stalking his grave

If I remember right it was lung cancer, not stomach cancer. Jack Benny, I believe died of stomach cancer.

ROSSI, mine is "Big Jake"

was a Great Actor and missed by millions

john Wayne died from lung cancer

SunShine, His last movie was "The Shootest" and was filmed in and around my hometown of Carson City, Nevada. as a young man who was lucky enough to see Duke up close and shake his hand, my instant impression was that of strength, pride, loyalty and respect. So much in fact that it helped to shape that kids future. Thank you Mr Wayne.

Morlok, yes he was actually dying then & had to (wanted to)work thru the pain & exhaustion. brave strong man

the western will not the same now John the Duke has gone

I din’t know

I knew this because of his final movie, The Shootist. An aging gunfighter/Marshall dying of cancer.

He was one of a kind! Loved all his movies!

I think it was lung cancer