By the 1970s, John Wayne was nearing the twilight of his illustrious Hollywood career. At 65, having lived with a single lung for nearly a decade and battling emphysema in the other, he continued to work despite his struggles.
In 1973, he released two Westerns that may not rank among his finest but showcased the veteran Hollywood actor’s unwavering spirit. Among these was ‘The Train Robbers,’ featuring Ann-Margret as a spirited widow teaming up with three cowboys to retrieve a cache of gold.
Despite his health challenges during filming, Wayne was adamant about not postponing production. Ann-Margret remembered Wayne’s resilience fondly, saying: “Duke was still a strong, rugged, formidable man, larger-than-life and incredibly personal. He was a big teddy bear, and we got along famously. Duke gave me the confidence I lacked.”
This support was particularly meaningful to the ‘Viva Las Vegas’ star, who had endured a tough year in 1972 after sustaining serious injuries during her Lake Tahoe performance.
Facing her own fears, including horseback riding for her role, she valued the encouragement from Wayne. Shared by the official John Wayne Instagram account, “The Duke” (@johnwayneofficial), this story reflects the enduring legacy of one of cinema’s greatest icons, reports the Express.
It was here that Wayne stepped in with an offer of support, enabling her to conquer this challenge. However, even before filming commenced, Duke had suffered two fractured ribs, causing him such pain that sleeping at night became a struggle.
Consequently, his intense action sequences in ‘The Train Robbers’ were cut back. Co-star Rod Taylor recalled Duke as being “slightly” under the weather throughout the shoot.
The star of ‘The Time Machine’ noted that the Western icon had balance issues and understandably required afternoon naps to cope.