Tommy Lee Jones Reveals the Only Actor He Truly Admires

Tommy Lee Jones has always been known for his no-nonsense attitude, both on and off the screen. With a reputation for playing tough, commanding characters, it ’s easy to imagine that his real-life persona isn’t far off from the roles he takes on. Jones is famously private, and his intensity is matched only by his commitment to his craft. When he signs on to a project, he gives it everything he’s got, making his performances unforgettable and powerful.

Throughout his career, Jones has starred in films like No Country for Old Men, JFK, Men in Black, and The Fugitive, earning a reputation for embodying gritty, masculine roles. It’s fitting, then, that one of his personal heroes is John Wayne, the ultimate symbol of old-school American toughness. In interviews, Jones has spoken about his admiration for Wayne, a figure who defined an era when Westerns ruled Hollywood and traditional values were front and center.

John Wayne’s Lasting Influence

Writer Joan Didion once said,

“When John Wayne rode through my childhood, and very probably through yours, he determined forever the shape of certain of our dreams.”

For Jones, this sentiment rings true. Growing up watching Wayne—affectionately called ‘The Duke’—stride across the big screen, he was captivated by the actor ’s larger-than-life presence. Wayne became a symbol of strength and American ideals, though today, his legacy is viewed with more complexity due to the problematic themes in many of his films.

Wayne’s off-screen persona was even more controversial. In a notorious 1971 Playboy interview, he openly expressed racist and homophobic views, stating his belief in white supremacy and making derogatory remarks about the film Midnight Cowboy. These comments have cast a long shadow over his legacy, making it impossible to separate the man from the myth entirely.

Jones’s Favorite Wayne Film

Despite Wayne’s troubling personal beliefs, Jones remains a devoted fan of his work. He once named Angel and the Badman, a 1947 Western, as his favorite among Wayne’s films.

“I love the honesty of John Wayne’s work. It’s about water. It’s about violence. It’s about peace. It’s about how these things might interface. I think it’s the most sophisticated film ‘The Duke’ ever made, and I like everything ‘The Duke’ ever made.”

Wayne’s filmography is filled with classics like The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Quiet Man, Stagecoach, and True Grit. His frequent collaborations with director John Ford helped cement his status as a Hollywood legend and a defining figure of the Western genre. Over time, the Western evolved, but Wayne’s influence remains undeniable.

Legacy and Admiration

Jones’s appreciation for Wayne is easy to understand, especially given his own history with Westerns. While Wayne’s off-screen actions and beliefs are deeply troubling, his impact on American cinema is still felt today. For Jones, the artistry and honesty Wayne brought to his roles outweigh the controversy, making him the only actor Jones claims never made a bad movie.