"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why was John Wayne important?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"John Wayne (born May 26, 1907, Winterset, Iowa, U.S.—died June 11, 1979, Los Angeles, California) was a major American motion-picture actor who embodied the image of the strong, taciturn cowboy or soldier and who in many ways personified the idealized American values of his era."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What was John Wayne's favorite restaurant?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It isn't hard to find a restaurant serving prime rib and steak in Orange County, but how many can seat you at John Wayne's favorite table? The charismatic screen legend was a frequent guest at Gulliver's and it's easy to see why."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who was John Wayne's BFF?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"And when it comes to John Wayne, there's one man that immediately comes to mind as his closest and most enduring friend - the legendary actor Ward Bond."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Was John Wayne a smoker?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"John Wayne

He made more than 200 films. A heavy smoker, Wayne had most of his left lung removed in 1964 and died of complications from stomach cancer 15 years later. He was 72."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much did John Wayne weigh?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"
170 lbs
John Wayne / Weight
\"Image
"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why did John Wayne never serve in the military?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The cold reality is that he studiously avoided military service. He decided that his career was a higher priority. It was a decision that would haunt him the rest of his life and would damage his relationships with some of his friends, most notably his principal mentor, film director John Ford."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What country singer is related to John Wayne?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Jennifer Wayne, a granddaughter of John Wayne, grew up in southern California, and Hannah Mulholland grew up in Los Angeles, California, while Naomi Cooke is from Cedar Key, Florida. Cooke co-wrote Tyler Farr's top 40 hit \"Better in Boots\"."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who inherited John Wayne's fortune?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"“John Wayne's will ensured that all seven of his children and his first wife (his second wife ԁıеԁ in 1961, per Find-a-Grave) received some compensation, either directly, or through trust funds, leaving them all with five and six-figure sums."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How many children did John Wayne give?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"To his seven children, he's Dad. A loving father, he raised a family whose differences in age and maternal parentage did not matter in their upbringing—the Wayne siblings stand as one family to this day."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What was John Wayne's personality like?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In a four-year period between 1932 and 1936 he played characters named “John” 24 times (and in 1932's Two-Fisted Law he was “Duke”). The repetition constructed his persona, which quickly coalesced into a stoic, somewhat puritanical loner with a ready grin but a hair-trigger temper."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Did John Wayne know Wyatt Earp?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Bottom line: Earp and Wayne never met. Anything Wayne knew about the real Earp came to him secondhand from Ford during their 25-year working relationship. Their encounter is only a charming Hollywood fable. Nonetheless, Earp and Wayne did share several qualities."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Was John Wayne a real cowboy?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The actor John Wayne came to personify the Old West, a guy who slow-talked and fought his way across the frontier, who could ride and tumble with the best of them. He became the archetypal tough-guy cowboy. But he wasn't a cowboy, far from it."}}]}}

14 of John Wayne's Favorite Foods (2024)

Home Food News People in Food

14 of John Wayne's Favorite Foods (1)

ByGrace Mannon

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: May 15, 2024

    We discovered what this Western film icon liked to eat, and it's one delicious round-up.

    1/14

    14 of John Wayne's Favorite Foods (2)

    Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

    John Wayne was more than a movie star and iconic American. He was also a normal guy who loved to grill out and eat good food. From beef casserole to recipes made with tequila, we know what tickled the Duke’s fancy.

    2/14

    Grilled Marinated Ribeyes Recipe photo by Taste of Home

    Grilled Steak

    Grilling was one of John Wayne’s favorite hobbies—he even owned a huge indoor grill. He dabbled in chicken, pork and seafood, but steak was his favorite. Learn our secrets for grilling the best steak.

    Go to Recipe

    3/14

    Anything with Whiskey

    The Duke loved whiskey. He liked blending and creating drinks, and when his son found several cases after his death, he was inspired to join forces with winemakers and start Duke Spirits.

    4/14

    Taste of Home

    Chiles Rellenos Souffle

    John’s third wife, Pilar, made a special souffle whenever her husband was filming on location. It’s packed with green chiles and cheese, and her recipe is replicated often, even today.

    Go to Recipe

    5/14

    Taste of Home

    Cheese Grits

    Arguably the most appropriate (and punnily titled) food featured in The Official John Wayne Way to Grill, is his True Grits with Cheese. We think he’d like this version, too.

    Go to Recipe

    6/14

    Taste of Home

    John Wayne Casserole

    Perhaps the most popular food connected with John Wayne is his eponymous casserole. This similar, hearty baked dish is packed with beef and finished with a biscuit-like topping. Find more of our great ground beef casseroles.

    Go to Recipe

    7/14

    Carnitas with Tequila

    Tequila was one of the Duke’s favorite spirits, whether in the form of a beverage or flavoring his food. He must’ve loved that subtle taste of agave. Not sure what to mix with tequila? Here’s some help.

    Go to Recipe

    8/14

    Oven-Fried Cornbread

    When you love to cook, a cast iron skillet is your friend. John Wayne’s recipe for cornbread made use of this magnificent tool and a similar recipe is included in the John Wayne Cast Iron Official Cookbook.

    Go to Recipe

    9/14

    Baked Crab Dip Recipe photo by Taste of Home

    Crab Dip

    Linda Evans, star of Dynasty and one of John’s Hollywood pals, shared a crab dip recipe that she got from him. Sounds like they ate well together! This recipe is a good copycat.

    Go to Recipe

    10/14

    Spicy Touchdown Chili Recipe photo by Taste of Home

    Spicy Chili

    John’s favorite batch of chili included three shots of tequila, which further proves his love of the mellow liquor. Want more genius ways to upgrade your chili? Read this.

    Go to Recipe

    11/14

    Baked Beans

    Nothing goes with grilled meat quite like baked beans, and Mr. Wayne had an easy and reliable recipe he loved. It starts with pork and beans and builds from there! Find more recipes that are cowboy-worthy.

    12/14

    Roast Beef and Gravy Recipe photo by Taste of Home

    Roast Beef and Gravy

    Considering his status as a man’s man, it’s no surprise that John Wayne loved roast beef. Yet another cookbook full of recipes near and dear to the Wayne family, The Official John Wayne Family Cookbook, includes several meaty mains.

    Go to Recipe

    13/14

    Taste of Home

    Grilled Meatballs

    John used his mother’s meatball recipe, making them extra-special by cooking them on the grill. Need more proof that moms know best? We have it!

    Go to Recipe

    14/14

    Taste of Home

    Scalloped Potatoes

    The man was unquestionably a fan of meat and potatoes, and one of his go-to side dishes was scalloped potatoes. With milk, cream, butter and cheese, John’s version wasn’t for the faint of heart. We think he’d like this take on taters.

    Go to Recipe

    Originally Published: February 19, 2020

    Author

    Grace Mannon

    Grace is a full-time mom with a master’s degree in food science. She has worked for clients like a bakery, a baby food company and a snack food company. Now a Taste of Home contributor, she curates recipe collections and shares baking techniques. She loves to experiment in the kitchen and writes about her hits (and misses) on her blog, A Southern...

    Read More

    14 of John Wayne's Favorite Foods (15)

    14 of John Wayne's Favorite Foods (2024)

    FAQs

    What is John Wayne's favorite food? ›

    The man was unquestionably a fan of meat and potatoes, and one of his go-to side dishes was scalloped potatoes. With milk, cream, butter and cheese, John's version wasn't for the faint of heart.

    Did John Wayne change his name? ›

    Wayne's legal name apparently remained Marion Robert Morrison his entire life although to this day his original name is almost always referred to as Marion Michael Morrison. Wayne's father, Clyde Leonard Morrison (1884–1937), was the son of American Civil War veteran Marion Mitchell Morrison (1845–1915).

    Who are John Wayne's grandchildren? ›

    Why was John Wayne important? ›

    John Wayne (born May 26, 1907, Winterset, Iowa, U.S.—died June 11, 1979, Los Angeles, California) was a major American motion-picture actor who embodied the image of the strong, taciturn cowboy or soldier and who in many ways personified the idealized American values of his era.

    What was John Wayne's favorite restaurant? ›

    It isn't hard to find a restaurant serving prime rib and steak in Orange County, but how many can seat you at John Wayne's favorite table? The charismatic screen legend was a frequent guest at Gulliver's and it's easy to see why.

    Who was John Wayne's BFF? ›

    And when it comes to John Wayne, there's one man that immediately comes to mind as his closest and most enduring friend - the legendary actor Ward Bond.

    Was John Wayne a smoker? ›

    John Wayne

    He made more than 200 films. A heavy smoker, Wayne had most of his left lung removed in 1964 and died of complications from stomach cancer 15 years later. He was 72.

    How much did John Wayne weigh? ›

    Why did John Wayne never serve in the military? ›

    The cold reality is that he studiously avoided military service. He decided that his career was a higher priority. It was a decision that would haunt him the rest of his life and would damage his relationships with some of his friends, most notably his principal mentor, film director John Ford.

    What country singer is related to John Wayne? ›

    Jennifer Wayne, a granddaughter of John Wayne, grew up in southern California, and Hannah Mulholland grew up in Los Angeles, California, while Naomi Cooke is from Cedar Key, Florida. Cooke co-wrote Tyler Farr's top 40 hit "Better in Boots".

    Who inherited John Wayne's fortune? ›

    “John Wayne's will ensured that all seven of his children and his first wife (his second wife ԁıеԁ in 1961, per Find-a-Grave) received some compensation, either directly, or through trust funds, leaving them all with five and six-figure sums.

    How many children did John Wayne give? ›

    To his seven children, he's Dad. A loving father, he raised a family whose differences in age and maternal parentage did not matter in their upbringing—the Wayne siblings stand as one family to this day.

    What was John Wayne's personality like? ›

    In a four-year period between 1932 and 1936 he played characters named “John” 24 times (and in 1932's Two-Fisted Law he was “Duke”). The repetition constructed his persona, which quickly coalesced into a stoic, somewhat puritanical loner with a ready grin but a hair-trigger temper.

    Did John Wayne know Wyatt Earp? ›

    Bottom line: Earp and Wayne never met. Anything Wayne knew about the real Earp came to him secondhand from Ford during their 25-year working relationship. Their encounter is only a charming Hollywood fable. Nonetheless, Earp and Wayne did share several qualities.

    Was John Wayne a real cowboy? ›

    The actor John Wayne came to personify the Old West, a guy who slow-talked and fought his way across the frontier, who could ride and tumble with the best of them. He became the archetypal tough-guy cowboy. But he wasn't a cowboy, far from it.

    Who was John Wayne's greatest love? ›

    True love: Maureen O'Hara met Wayne at the home of director John Ford in 1941. He was her favorite co-star--both on screen and off. Maureen would be one of the last to see him before he died in 1979 when his years of smoking four and five packs of cigarettes a day finally caught up with him.

    What is John Wayne's eye color? ›

    Olson in their book John Wayne: American, which served as the basis for this story. The husky blue-eyed man whose name was pronounced Boo was quick to smile and make a new friend. He gave off the aura of a European aristocrat. His car contained one of the very first mobile phones.

    Who were John Wayne's favorite co stars? ›

    In fact, Wayne's most beloved co-star wasn't even a human being but was, in fact, a horse by the name of Dollor. Dollor starred with Wayne in each of his final movies, beginning with 1971's Big Jake and ending with his final ever film appearance in The Shootist by Don Siegel, released in 1976.

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