John Wayne was a loving father even in his last days.
Who are his grandchildren?
John’s offspring keep his legacy alive.
Movie star John Wayne was a father of seven children and a doting grandfather. His kids spoke highly of him and shared he had a heart for people.
Actor John Wayne was a loving father to his brood, even in his last days. The veteran star was a dad to sons Patrick, Ethan, and Michael, including daughters Aissa, Marisa, Melinda, and Mary.
Patrick is the oldest of six siblings and half-siblings, followed by Michael, Mary, Melinda, Aissa, Ethan, and Marisa. John shares Patrick, Mary, Michael, and Melinda with his first wife, Josephine Wayne.
The Hollywood star welcomed Aissa, Ethan, and Marisa with his third wife, Pilar Pallete. He had been married thrice but did not have kids with his second wife, Esperanza Baur.
When growing up, the Wayne brood spent family vacation adventures on the Wild Goose, a World War minesweeper that the father of seven converted into a family yacht. The kids spent much of their childhood in Newport Beach, California. The blended family frequently traveled to Catalina Island, San Diego, and Mexico on the 136-foot yacht.
Five of John’s kids attended a “Q&A” wherein they once talked about him as a parent at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Ethan deemed his father a good parent:
“We’re here today as a family. And you’re all here because you love John Wayne. He was a great dad.”
Ethan and Patrick have followed in their father’s footsteps. The two brothers and their sister Marisa took acting lessons. Patrick performed at dinner theaters, summer stock, and on several TV shows and game shows.
While at the “Q&A” event, he talked about John’s last six weeks of his life, revealing that his dad was in severe agony but remained free-spirited:
“He was in constant pain, and he was very uncomfortable. But he still had grit and courage. He would often reach out to others in UCLA Medical Center and try to console them.”
Meanwhile, their siblings, Michael and Mary, also forged their paths in show business. Michael reportedly had cameo roles in his father’s movies. He liked the film industry so much that he worked his way up the ladder from production assistant to producer.
John Wayne: An American Experience honors our US Military personnel with FREE admission on Armed Forces Day this May 21 🇺🇸 Present valid ID to a staff member upon check-in to receive free admission. pic.twitter.com/BlM2X5bOe5
— John Wayne Official (@JohnDukeWayne) May 19, 2022
Michael also served on the board of the John Wayne Foundation and worked with his dad’s film company, Batjac Productions. Sadly, he died in 2003.
On the other hand, his sister Mary appeared in some of their father’s movies but later left it all behind after getting married and having kids. She, too, passed away in 2000. Mary’s half-sister, Aissa, worked as an attorney and, in 2015, reportedly endorsed Donald Trump for president. She still appears to be working as a lawyer to date.
John Has More than 23 Grandkids
Apart from being a dad, John was also a grandfather of more than 23 grandkids. His granddaughter is Alicia Maria McFarlane, Michael’s daughter.
John was once pictured holding one of his grandsons on the set of the Western film, “Big Jake.” He starred alongside two of his sons in that movie, Michael and Patrick.
Another grandson is Brendan Wayne, who recently took to Instagram and shared a photo featuring him, his wife, and his kids. He captioned the post: Thankful for my family and all the adventures that we take on!” during their trip to Calabria, Italy.
Brendan once said he had “no ego” when asked about he felt when people asked about his famous grandfather. “I’ve seen how far he reaches and how many people he touches in a positive way,” he explained.
Like his grandparent, he is also an actor and has appeared in “Cowboys and Aliens” and “The Mandalorian,” playing the man in the armor as Pedro Pascal’s double. Brendan has also starred in the blockbuster film franchise, “Fast & Furious.”
He is also a doting father of three daughters whom he shares with his wife, actress Sara Arrington. She appeared on “Safe House” and S.W.A.T.”
John’s other granddaughter, Anita LaCava Swift, posted on November 23, 2022, that she was “grateful to have my family all in one place” for Thanksgiving.
She recalled being a teen when her grandad was filming “The Cowboys” in 1972. Swift was 22 years old when John died of stomach cancer in June 1979, and she said:
“He made an indelible impression on my life.”
John’s third granddaughter is Jennifer Wayne, a country music star. She is a first-time mom to Lily Maria, whom she and her husband, Austin Moody, welcomed in April 2022.
On October 21, 2022, Jennifer gushed about her little girl on Instagram, writing: “I’ve FALLen head over heels for this little munchkin” alongside a photo of the mother-and-daughter duo widely smiling for the camera. When Jennifer’s grandfather died, he left behind more than 15 grandkids.
He also has grandchildren via Marisa, who are Ethan’s niece and nephew. Another of his grandsons is Matthew Munoz, who became a Catholic priest.
Munoz once recounted his childhood memories with his grandfather, sharing that when he was young, he would go to his home and spend time with him. He and his siblings would play and have a good time with their grandad, “a very different image from what most people have of him,” he stated.
Munoz said he was proud that his grandparent converted to the Catholic religion before he died. “God coming first, then family, then country,” he said about John’s values. Munoz was only 14 when the Oscar winner passed away.
Father Munoz revealed his grandfather expressed deep regret for not becoming Catholic in the early days of his life because of his hectic schedule.
Moreover, John’s other grandson is Peter LaCava, Mary’s son, and Josephine’s grandson. In January 2020, Peter shared a selfie posing outside a restaurant and captioned the post: “Good ride to Julian!”
In February 2022, he visited his mother and grandmother’s graves and posted a photo of the gravesites on Instagram. “Hanging with two great ladies! Both of them judging the hell out of me still! Still love them both! Love you, Mom!” he wrote.
How John’s Loved Ones Keep His Legacy Alive
Before John died, he told his loved ones that the doctors attempting to find a cure for cancer should never be forgotten. His granddaughter Swift revealed to Fox 4 that he was passionate about helping others fight the disease in his last days.
She said the “True Grit” star encouraged the family “to find a cure for cancer by using his image and likeness, so that’s what we’ve been doing,” Swift disclosed.
The Wayne family keeps the family patriarch’s legacy alive through the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. The foundation’s prevention program educates people, especially children, about skin cancer through its “Block the Blaze” initiative.
Swift revealed that they have educated “over 50,000 children through summer programs and school about melanoma.” She also urged men and women to go for routine check-ups. Swift said they are “proud” of their progress and the foundation’s achievements.
She explained when the family formed the organization; they never anticipated the difference it would make in people’s lives. Swift said that because her grandfather is still well-known, “he is able to make a difference.”
Meanwhile, John’s son Patrick said his name still carries weight worldwide. When John was on his deathbed, he told doctors that he was willing to try out an experiment and said that if it became a success, he would help.
He once said: “I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please.” The same message has been relayed on his official Twitter page alongside a photo of him holding a cigarette.
