13 Surprising Facts About John Wayne That Reveal His True Character

9) He Was Good Friends With Lucy

Wayne was close friends with Lucille Ball and probably met her through his affair with Maureen O’hara (who was once roommate to Ball). Wayne made appearances on I Love Lucy and on The Lucy Show.

10) Places Named After Him

Among the places named for him are an airport, an elementary school, a highway, and a hiking trail.

11) Heart Surgery

Wayne had heart surgery to replace one of his valves with that of a pig’s heart in 1978.

12) Design Skills

Wayne was rumored to have been quite good at decorating and if he had anything to do with designing these rooms then we’d have to agree. He is said to have acquired these skills from his days as a prop boy.

13) He Was a Fool for His Favorite Candy

Tootsie Rolls were the Duke’s preferred treat. In his last days he lamented not being able to have any.

We spent so much time watching his films growing up that John Wayne felt like a fixture in our homes. But, it just goes to show that even if you think you know a lot about a celebrity- there’s always more to the story!