John Wayne’s Final Oscar Hope: The Role That Meant Everything
John Wayne’s legendary career never earned him an honorary Oscar, but his performance in The Shootist was his last shot at Academy recognition. Discover why this role was so important to him—and why the Academy overlooked it.
Throughout his storied career, John Wayne became a symbol of American cinema, yet he never received an honorary Academy Award. While many of his contemporaries—like Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Cary Grant—were honored with such recognition, Wayne was left out. Despite this, he did secure a competitive Oscar for Best Actor thanks to his role in True Grit. Some in Hollywood saw this win as more of a nod to his enduring legacy than a celebration of that specific performance, but for Wayne, it was the validation he’d long sought.
Chasing Recognition in Hollywood
Wayne had been nominated twice before: once for his acting in Sands of Iwo Jima and once as a producer for The Alamo. Still, he was rarely considered among the era’s most versatile actors. He often played characters that mirrored his own persona, but his undeniable charisma and box office draw kept him at the top for decades.
As his career neared its end, Wayne wanted to leave a lasting impression. He chose The Shootist as his final project, a film that mirrored his own life in many ways. In it, he played JB Books, an aging gunfighter facing his own mortality after a cancer diagnosis. The role was a poignant reflection of Wayne’s own struggles and a fitting close to his time on screen.
The Shootist: A Personal Farewell
Despite delivering what many considered his strongest performance since True Grit, Wayne’s work in The Shootist didn’t earn him another Oscar nomination. The film did receive some awards attention—Lauren Bacall was nominated for a Bafta, and Ron Howard made the Golden Globes shortlist—but Wayne himself was overlooked by the Academy.
Critics praised his portrayal, but it wasn’t enough to sway voters. According to Pat Stacy, Wayne’s close companion, the lack of recognition was a disappointment.
“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 in her memoir.
“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.”
The End of an Era
Wayne never got another chance at Oscar glory. He passed away before he could take on another leading role, though he had hoped to work with Ron Howard again. His last appearance at the Academy Awards was as a presenter, handing the Best Picture trophy to The Deer Hunter, rather than sitting among the nominees one last time.