The One Oscar John Wayne Secretly Craved Before He Died
John Wayne's trophy case included a Best Actor Oscar, but one of Hollywood's biggest legends was surprisingly overlooked for a different honor. As his career came to a close, there was one final role he believed deserved recognition, a hope that was never fulfilled.
It remains one of the more puzzling oversights in Hollywood history: John Wayne never received an honorary Academy Award for his monumental contributions to film. This is especially odd considering how many of his contemporaries, like Fred Astaire, Cary Grant, and James Stewart, were given such a prize. The Duke wasn't left empty-handed, though. He did take home a competitive Best Actor trophy for his role in True Grit. While some in the industry whispered it was more of a lifetime achievement award than a nod to that specific performance, Wayne didn't mind. He had finally secured the prize that validated him as a serious actor.
That win came after two previous nominations—one for his acting in Sands of Iwo Jima and another as a producer for The Alamo. Still, he was never really considered one of the great actors of his time. He was often just John Wayne on screen. But what he might have lacked in versatility, he more than compensated for with immense star power, box office dominance, and incredible staying power.
A Final, Poignant Role
As The Duke sensed his time in the spotlight was ending, both personally and professionally, he wanted to go out on a high note. In a classic case of life imitating art, he chose The Shootist for his final film. It’s easy to see why the part of JB Books—an aging gunslinger from a bygone era confronting his own mortality after a terminal cancer diagnosis—resonated so deeply with him. The role was a perfect final chapter for a legendary career.
Despite delivering what was arguably his best performance since True Grit, he was completely shut out of the awards season buzz. This was particularly striking given that his more recent films, like Cahill US Marshal and McQ, hadn't been nearly as strong. Even though the film itself got some attention, with Lauren Bacall earning a Bafta nomination for Best Leading Actress and Ron Howard getting a Golden Globe nod for Best Supporting Actor, The Duke himself was nowhere in the running. His performance earned positive reviews from critics, but it just wasn't enough to catch the Academy's eye.
A Hope Unfulfilled
This wasn't the outcome he had hoped for, as Pat Stacy later revealed in her memoir. “The Shootist meant something to Duke, and he was determined to see that it was kept alive, even if he had to do it single-handedly,” she wrote. “Besides, there was talk in the air that the picture might land Duke a third Oscar nomination. Although we never talked about it, I knew he wanted it for the picture and wanted it for himself. He simply wasn’t sure how many more quality starring roles he could find for a man his age.”
Tragically, the answer was none. He passed away before he could make another movie, shelving plans to work with Howard again on a final project. In a bittersweet twist, his last appearance at the Oscars was not as a nominee, but as a presenter, handing the Best Picture award to The Deer Hunter.