“The best in the world”: John Wayne’s favourite actor of all time
Widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time, John Wayne was a true champion of the western movie genre. Though he was often reviled for his outspokenness and conservative views, it’s undeniable that Wayne remains one of American cinema’s most enduring icons with a legacy that usually precedes itself.
For decades, Wayne represented a particular vision of American heroism on the big screen. Whether riding across dusty western landscapes or standing firm in wartime dramas, his characters often embodied resilience, authority and a stubborn sense of moral clarity.
Known for playing his characters with a stoic sense of rugged masculinity, Wayne gave eternally memorable performances in the likes of The Searchers, Stagecoach and True Grit, each of which proved his undying dedication to the craft of the acting profession itself and his championing of the American spirit.
Wayne had also been known to frequently discuss his fellow actors and showbusiness stars, often in a negative light. He called out Jane Fonda’s “horrible actions” during the Vietnam War, had a famous feud with Frank Sinatra and felt scorn for another icon of the western movie genre, Clint Eastwood.
However, if you were to catch The Duke on a good day, he might have positive things to say, particularly about a person who had captured his attention. Wayne loved his frequent director, John Ford, as well as several other figures he had the fortune of working with, and he once went as far as to name his favourite actor of all time.
That praise was rare enough to carry real weight. Wayne was known for speaking bluntly about Hollywood and its personalities, so when he singled out another performer for admiration, it tended to reflect genuine respect rather than polite industry courtesy.
“I think the best actor in the world today is James Garner,” Wayne once said in Scott Eyman’s book John Wayne: The Life and Legend. Garner duly earned his place in the pantheon of great American actors, and after working with the likes of Marlon Brando and Henry Fonda early in his career, he made his breakout in the western series Maverick between 1957 and 1960.
From there, Garner proceeded to star alongside some of the most significant names in film history. He acted with Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, with Bruce Lee in Marlowe, and with Julie Andrews in The Americanization of Emily. Garner would go on to be nominated for an Academy Award for his effort in 1985’s Murphy’s Romance.
While it was the 20th century that served as the most significant era of Garner’s career, throughout the beginning of the 21st century, until his death in 2014, the actor continued to give memorable performances in the likes of Clint Eastwood’s Space Cowboys and The Notebook, in which he starred alongside Ryan Gosling and Gena Rowlands.
It was Garner’s versatility that seemed to capture the fondness of Wayne, who noted, “He can do anything—comedy, detective. Just his facial expressions alone are enough to crack you up.” Indeed, Garner had proven across more than 50 theatrical films that he could extend his talents to any genre or tone of film, and while he perhaps evades the acclaim of some of his contemporaries, he forever wrote himself into the history of American cinema.
Still, comparing Garner to some of the great actors of yore, Wayne had said, “They rave about Brando and Scott, but they couldn’t hold a candle to him.” It took quite a lot for another actor to gain the approval of Wayne, as he was known for his frequent scornful words, but when it came to James Garner, he was simply the cream of the crop in the eyes of The Duke.
Check out Garner’s interview with Johnny Carson below.
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