when did john wayne die

John Wayne died on June 11, 1979.

Quick Facts

Born Marion Michael Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, he rose to fame as the iconic cowboy in Westerns and war films, embodying American grit through over 170 movies. Duke , as he was nicknamed, passed away at age 72 from stomach cancer at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, after a battle that included surgery earlier that year. His death marked the end of an era for Hollywood's Golden Age stars.

Cause and Final Days

Wayne had been fighting cancer, entering UCLA on January 10, 1979, for what started as routine gall-bladder surgery but revealed stomach cancer, leading to removal of his stomach and lymph nodes. He lapsed into a coma on Sunday, June 10, and died the next day at 5:35 p.m., surrounded by his three sons. Despite a cancer-vaccine study, the disease proved fatal; he converted to Roman Catholicism shortly before passing and was buried at Pacific View Memorial Park.

Legacy Highlights

• Starred in classics like Stagecoach (1939), The Searchers , and True Grit (Oscar win, 1970).

• Top box-office draw for three decades, personifying duty, honor, and frontier spirit.

• Off-screen, he crafted his "Wayne thing"—the drawl, squint, and tough persona.

His influence endures in cinema, with fans still discussing his last words to daughter Aissa: heartfelt family sentiments amid his final film, The Shootist. No recent trends or forum buzz revives this 1979 event, but his story remains a timeless tale of resilience.

TL;DR: June 11, 1979, stomach cancer, age 72.

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