John Wayne refused a major Western role because the script insulted a late friend
In the early 1960s, John Wayne was offered a leading role in a major studio Western. The character—a cold, distant gunslinger—shared many details with Wayne’s late friend, actor Ward Bond, who had passed away recently.
Reading the script, Wayne realized the character was portrayed as a coward who abandoned his comrades in battle. In real life, Ward Bond was a war hero who had saved fellow soldiers in World War II. Wayne saw the script as an insult.
He met with the director and producer, telling them: “If this character is based on Ward, I will never play it. I’m not making money off tarnishing a dead man’s name.” When they refused to change it, Wayne walked away.
The film went ahead with another actor but flopped at the box office. Wayne continued choosing projects where characters upheld integrity.
Work ethic after that decision
From then on, Wayne carefully reviewed scripts to ensure his characters didn’t betray his values. Younger actors recalled how he turned down revenge roles or “anti-hero” parts simply because “I don’t want young audiences thinking cowardice is acceptable.”