As a fan of both John Wayne and Star Wars, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of nostalgia and connection between these two iconic figures in cinema history. It’s fascinating to think that the man who once roamed the Wild West on horseback now resides in the galaxy far, far away through the power of sound design. The irony isn’t lost on me that the Duke, who was known for his gruff and commanding voice, is now responsible for the unique buzzing sound of one of Star Wars’ most memorable characters, “Long Snoot.
There will never be a Hollywood movie star quite like John Wayne again. The Duke was the face of the Western genre for nearly 40 years, and though he played parts in other crime dramas, romances, war pictures, and even musicals, he was always America’s favorite cowboy first and foremost. His tough cadence, distinct vocals, and all-around heroic image made the actor an idol for many in the mid-20th century. But if you’ve been around the internet long enough, you’ve probably heard a rumor about Wayne crossing over from horse operas to space westerns in his final years. Yes, John Wayne is actually featured in one of the greatest science-fiction films of all time, and most audiences didn’t even know it.
Instead of starring in an ordinary “space western” for his swan song, it was none other than the original “Star Wars” film that the Duke made his final appearance. Despite his last few roles being Westerns, it’s accurate to say that John Wayne makes a cameo as a specific character in George Lucas’ 1977 space epic, though not in the way you might assume. To grasp John Wayne’s role in “Star Wars,” it would be beneficial to revisit the closing chapter of his career and ponder how such a casting took place.
What happened to John Wayne? His tragic final days, explained
Beginning in the 1920s, John Wayne appeared in numerous Hollywood films, but it wasn’t until 1970 that he received his first Oscar for his performance as Rooster Cogburn in “True Grit”, one of his finest movies. This film was widely praised, marking a significant milestone in the career of the Western star. In the early 1970s, Wayne graced iconic Western productions such as “Chisum”, “Big Jake”, “The Cowboys”, and “Cahill U.S. Marshal”. He made his first traditional sequel in 1975 with the penultimate film “Rooster Cogburn”, revisiting his “True Grit” character, and played his final leading role as J.B. Books in “The Shootist” the following year.
However, the Duke experienced some health issues behind the scenes during the ’70s. In 1964, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, a consequence of his smoking past. His left lung and several ribs were surgically removed, but he remained resilient, stating, “I beat the Big C.” Unfortunately, this wasn’t his only health challenge. Approximately a decade later, two years after the release of “The Shootist,” he underwent open-heart surgery to replace a valve. Tragically, his fight against cancer resurfaced in 1980 when advanced stomach cancer was detected, which eventually took his life.
As I took my final bow at the Oscars in April, little did I know it was my swan song. On June 11, 1979, the cancer that had been plaguing me finally took its toll, claiming the life of John Wayne. Just before I slipped away, my son Patrick asked if I wanted a priest by my side. “Sure, that sounds wise,” I managed to say. It wasn’t long after, that I was baptized and received my last rites, all under the watchful gaze of the Church.
John Wayne’s last starring role was not his final movie
In regards to John Wayne’s last film, “The Shootist,” isn’t that just his final acting appearance? Indeed, it is in a technical sense. As Wayne’s last leading role and farewell to the Western genre, he portrayed J.B. Books in this 1976 production – an old gunfighter with one more adventure left. The film bore significant influence from Gregory Peck’s movie, “The Gunfighter,” a role initially intended for Wayne. Interestingly, his final on-screen gunslinger harbored a secret of his own – a medical condition mirroring his own terminal cancer diagnosis. In retrospect, the film seems almost prophetic. It’s unclear if Wayne was aware of his health issues during filming, but some accounts suggest he didn’t express surprise upon learning about it.
The film “Star Wars” was released about a year after “The Shootist,” but John Wayne didn’t have the main role. Interestingly, John Wayne is not credited for his part in “Star Wars,” possibly because he had no idea he appeared in it when it first came out. By the time “Star Wars” premiered, Wayne had retired and stepped away from the film industry, which was his last move before his passing. It wasn’t until 2007 that fans learned the surprising fact that John Wayne’s final on-screen appearance wasn’t actually in “The Shootist.
Wait, John Wayne was in Star Wars?
Indeed, John Wayne did contribute to “Star Wars”, albeit vocally. Ben Burtt, the original sound designer for the Star Wars saga, explained that the distinctive buzzing sound made by the character Garindan ezz Zavor (also known as “Long Snoot” by fans) in the 1977 film was manipulated dialogue from one of Duke’s earlier films. In a post on the official Star Wars Blog in 2007, Burtt shared that he had rediscovered this electronic buzzing sound was produced by his synthesizer, which was activated by a human voice. Upon listening to it, he recognized it as John Wayne.
In a galaxy far, far away, I was the Imperial agent, hidden on the dusty plains of Tatooine. My mission? To keep tabs on Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. As their adventure unfolded, it was my orders to send stormtroopers scrambling after them right before they made a daring escape aboard the Millennium Falcon. Little did I know that an old quote from John Wayne movies was the trigger for that buzzing in my ear – something like “Alright, what are you doing in this town.” Fast forward through time, this very same dialogue was reused in various video games such as “Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy” and “Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga,” bringing a touch of the past into the digital world.
Although John Wayne himself didn’t act in the “Star Wars” movies, his iconic voice played a crucial role in bringing one of the films’ most unique characters to life. Interestingly, John Wayne isn’t just linked to Star Wars through that instance; his grandson, Brenden Wayne, is the main actor portraying Din Djarin (character voiced by Pedro Pascal) in “The Mandalorian” series, a space western production, and has also appeared as Lt. Lander in “Ahsoka.
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2024-11-26 15:30