Who did the most of the stunts for John Wayne in the 1965 movie, The Sons of Katie Elder?

This picture marked the return of John Wayne to work after having a cancerous lung and two ribs removed just four months earlier. He insisted on doing all his own stunts to show the public that the illness hadn't slowed him down.

When John Wayne is dragged into the river, you can hear a child calling out, "Dad!". This was his three-year-old son Ethan Wayne, who was watching off camera and knew how ill his father was. Wayne nearly contracted pneumonia from filming this scene.

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42 Comments

Sindy Kimmis Farris

I went to school with Ethan Wayne... And we’re still good friends. Imagine being in high school working in the administration office when you notice a sick note for a classmate and it’s signed by John Wayne!

Ed Tillinghast

My long time neighbor, John Maloney, was a stunt man in this movie and 9 other John Wayne westerns. John M. Was a Hellcat pilot during WWII, had a black belt in Judo, test piloted the F102 in the early ‘50s, was a fine artist and learned to play the piano in his late 80s. John died a year ago and I forever miss his great humor and wisdom.

gdwhitton

Sure do miss the Duke. Great actor and American icon.

Todd Van Dell

Sindy , Went to Carden Hall private school in Newport Beach with Ethan and his sister Marissa. Ethan was in my younger brother John"s class. Marissa was in my younger sister Lesley's class. Lesley got invited to Marissa's birthday party one year. Lesley had bad allergies and reacted badly to the grass the kids were all playing on. She wound up going inside to try to recover from her allergic reaction and ended up playing chess with John while the rest of the kids continued to play. Not a horrible way to spend a day. Playing chess with The Duke. John used to take the kids to school all the time. We'd see him out in the parking lot in their big green station wagon. Think it was a Buick but it's been more than 40 years ago now, so it's hard to recall. I met John a few years later one night at his tennis club, The John Wayne Tennis Club in Newport Beach. I was singing in the Chamber Choir of Corona Del Mar H.S. and we got invited to sing at the club. As we finished our performance for a private party, John came into the room, and went down the line and shook hands with each of us. My friend Ellen was an Alto and she was standing right next to me. Ellen was a bit taller than my 5'11". She towered over me at 6'2". When John got to her, she instinctively shrank a bit as she was petrified meeting the great man himself, who towered over most of us at 6'4". He looked Ellen right in the eye and said "don't you dare shrink, young lady. Not for me, not for anybody. Stand tall and proud always. You're the first woman I've ever met who could look me in the eyes." After that I don't remember much of what I said to him but he seemed a very nice man and he appreciated us performing for that party in his club. (CDM Class of 1979. Our 40th reunion is this year.) Where did you meet Ethan?

Jean Stulcke

Knowing the nature of John Wayne, you’d have to know that he would do his own stunts.

Teryann58 Mapes

I've read some bio's on John Wayne n interviews n he mentioned he liked doing his own stunts😁

Jenn

A legend of a man indeed

marne soldier

You are truly missed Duke. You were a true American and one if the finest actors. I went into the Cavalry because of your portrayal of them, RIP DUKE 6

wildman

I disagree, but hey, whatever!

Donna Smith

John Wayne was ONE HELL OF A MAN

Spencer

This is a repeated old question that somehow keeps springing up in one way or another.

shannon

Don't care what others say, it will always be John Wayne Airport. Seems silly, I know. Seeing the statue of him as I'm walking thru always puts a smile on my face.