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.

Lived on Balboa Island, Southern Cali. for about 8 months as a munchkin Right across The Bay was his 112 foot yacht. It had a 🎳 lane and skeet shooting and so much cool stuff so he was always being "just Dad" @ home! A Great man indeed!

I thought he had Lung Cancer but his Movies. were the Bomb

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Rebecca Gardner, My fave too, in westerns!!! Otherwise, Barbara Stanwyck; and Glenn Ford; Jimmy Stewart; Katherine Hepburn!!!

Loss of another icon.

he was the best, the Duke.

I like John Wayne, he was a funny man, great actor.

I have not watch it so I could I have know it

I have to agree with you. Why on earth didn't they simply respect his wishes and put what he wanted on his tombstone. It doesn't make any sense. I prefer cremation for many reasons.

Rebecca Gardner, right and why was it unmarked for 20 years?!

My Father loved John Wayne. As a Kid he and I used to watch all his movies., my favorite was the man who shot Liberty Valance with Woody Strode and Lee Marvin. Whether or not he was racist 🤔 I don't know, racism wasn't taught in our home.

I remember this great iconic actor getting a special Lifetime Academy Award when the Academy knew he was dying of cancer. He was everyones' hero for those of us who love westerns. Seeing this virile large man reduced to a sickly shell of himself really hurt me.

Granny, this is what I heard as well. stomach cancer was a met caused by lung CA caused by excessive smoking.

angie, I've also heard, throughout the years, that he was both racist and misogynistic as well. I'd offer the excuse, "it was a different time back then," but we all know it was never okay to hold such prejudiced.

rp, I thought it was lung CA that finally killed him as well

He smoked almost 3,000 cigarettes a year which would cost him almost 14,000 dollars yearly, .

He's my favorite a

He is yet another great man that'll be sorely missed! RIP Mr.Wayne!🙏😪

oh not lung cancer?

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?