Footage Of John Wayne’s Final Public Appearance in 1979 Academy Awards Heightens Respect To The "Duke"

Apr 17, 2020

Johnny Carson and Bob Hope introduced John Wayne at the 1979 Academy Awards, his final appearance in public, to an emotional crowd that gave him a much-deserved standing ovation.

John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa. He was was one of the most popular film actors of the 20th century, known for roles in films such as True Grit and The Alamo. He had landed his first leading film role in The Big Trail (1930).

Working with John Ford, he scored another lead role, this time in Stagecoach (1939). His career advanced once more when he worked with director Howard Hawks in Red River (1948). In 1969, Wayne won his first Academy Award for his role in True Grit 

But by the 1970s, the Hollywood veteran was battling more than just outlaws and Indians — in real life, he was battling cancer.

He had contracted cancer twice: In 1964, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and had his left lung removed, then in 1979 he contracted stomach cancer, which eventually took his life. He felt his lung cancer was the result of his 5-pack-a-day, unfiltered cigarette habit.

It's been more than 40 years since the world lost The Duke. He appeared at the 1979 Academy Awards and was rushed to the hospital shortly after because of his deteriorating condition, but not before deservedly receiving a standing ovation from an emotional crowd.

The footage of this moment is immortalized on youtube, and just watching it will make your hairs stand.

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne

The actor was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter posthumously in 1980, and within five years, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation was created in his name. It continues on to this day in an effort to spread his message of hope against the fight against cancer.

What is your favorite John Wayne movie? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this along to your friends and family.