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Was there ever a replacement for John Wayne?

SteveSS

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I rewatched True Grit last night and McClintok today. It made me wonder if now or ever has there ever been someone as good that can replace him? I know there's , other tough guys and action stars but he brought more to the screen. He didn't have to be a steroid body builder. He just had an authority about him and a human side.

Anyone even close???

Tom Selleck? Jeff Bridges? Chris Pratt?
 
James Drury as "The Virginian" pretty much dressed the same, and was a cool actor in his part.

He came across as a mini John Wayne. Doug McClure was quite the opposite.

Troy McClure.gif
 
I think Clint Eastwood pretty much cinched the honor with Unforgiven just as John Wayne did with The Shootist. But I do like Tom Seleck and Sam Elliot as close seconds, and maybe even Robert Duvall from Lonesome Dove and Open Range.
 
JMO, The Duke was one of the few who reached a pinnacle of success, while still many others are or have, in their own right, there’s the thing that no two people are the same, and he made his unique mark which I doubt anyone will make the same one in the future. I’d say the same for Clint and others mentioned where nobody will clone them.

Many flicks where it seemed that the actor who played the role was perfect, and yet hearing how they were competing with another actor or the one selected initially was replaced before filming. In one case, after filming started when new scenes had to be done with the replacement actor (Back to the Future Micheal J. Fox replaced another, even though he was the first pick being unavailable, changes were later made making him available).

Selleck was the first go to for Indiana Jones; but his contract with Magnum PI I guess prohibited his availability. In retrospect, this just had to have pissed him off.
 
I agree with Clint on the badass score but not all facets. Wayne could be talkative, even downright personable and charming in some roles. Selleck is a better fit in this area. McClintok is one where he's a nice guy to everyone except the really bad guys. I've seen a lot of times when Wayne was nice/protective of Indians and Mexicans. Sometimes Bruce Willis can be charming in a tough guy role.
 
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