John Wayne's Handsome Grandson Brendan Is Also An Actor

Mar 23, 2020

As one of the most infamous icons in pop culture history, John Wayne’s legacy keeps on growing to this day. Unsurprisingly, everyone from his generation still affectionately refers to him as “The Duke.” Although this unmatched Hollywood legend has been deceased for forty years, his lineage has yielded several stars who have followed in his fearless footsteps. If you think about it, The Duke’s inimitable spirit continues to live via his progeny. One shining example of this long-standing influence can be witnessed in the work of his grandson, Brendan Wayne.

Standing at a statuesque 6’5”, John carried himself with a commanding presence, and the actor was specifically known for the effect he had on women. Today’s critics agree that Brendan is equally charming and capable of making the ladies swoon. This gift of intensely rugged handsomeness appears to be a direct inheritance from his grandad. In describing The Duke’s effortless strut, Brendan explained, “My grandfather was so graceful… It was because he was so strong. It allowed him to move in a certain way. Plus, he had tiny feet.”

With his refined cowboy swagger and incisive confidence, John epitomized the cultural meaning of masculinity from the 1930s through the 1970s. Luckily, Brendan is capable of carrying this mantle just fine. While he maintains the testosterone-fueled vigor that is associated with his family tree, the younger Wayne also demonstrates the desirable traits of hubris and humility.

Despite being cautioned by his mother against entering the cinema industry, Brendan decided that the potential benefits outweighed the risks. Although he was specifically warned about the inherent difficulties of being reviewed under the specter of his grandfather’s shadow, Brendan simply learned to take all of the comparisons in stride. He even solicited a side-by-side analysis by starring in a remake of John’s acclaimed movie, Angel and the Badman. After vacillating on the gig, he decided to commit full-heartedly.

Fittingly, Brendan’s breakout role occurred in the 2001 television series, Angel, and it was followed by appearances in CSI, S.W.A.T., Sons of Anarchy and Cold Case. After gaining recognition in 2009’s Fast & Furious, the suave media darling entered the upper echelon of Hollywood by leaving his mark on Steven Spielberg’s Cowboys and Aliens. All of a sudden, Brendan found himself among the likes of Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, and Harrison Ford. He displayed tremendous humbleness about the role by questioning, “How do they justify keeping me in the film? I want to be a part of this group, so how do I make myself valuable?”

The sci-fi Western directed by Jon Favreau only provided him with one spoken line, but he got to show off extraordinary feats of physical prowess by doing his own stunts. These dangerous maneuvers happened to facilitate a daring backflip while on horseback. Favreau reunited with Brendan for The Mandalorian, but most people didn’t even know that he was the one wearing the renowned Star Wars suit. It’s sort of similar to how no one realized The Duke was donning a hairpiece, which Brendan gleefully recounts from his childhood.

When he was born Daniel Brendan La Cava on February 8th, 1978, he was just one of eight siblings begat by Mary Antonia Wayne LaCava and her husband Donald Leon LaCava. Sadly, he was only seven when his “granddaddy” passed away. As a native of Encino, California, the budding performer had early access to classical training that encompassed a variety of fields including dance, theater, and fencing. Thus, he is synonymous with the definition of a modern renaissance man. Brendan is currently in a loving marriage with four doting daughters.

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