A titan of cinema, John Wayne’s towering legacy in Hollywood is undeniable. As the iconic symbol of American masculinity, he commanded the screen for decades, epitomising strength, resolve, and a clear moral compass. His heroic roles, particularly in Westerns, made him a household name and a beacon of the American Dream. Yet, behind the carefully crafted image of the clean-cut cowboy and war hero, Wayne’s personal life was often tainted by an addiction to alcohol and a reputation for wild, drunken antics.
His fondness for whiskey – often in excess – was a key part of his persona. Though never officially labelled an alcoholic, those who worked closely with him frequently described his boozy tendencies, particularly during filming. As reported by film historian Sam O’Steen in his memoir, studios often arranged John Wayne’s shooting schedules so that his more demanding scenes could be wrapped up early in the day, before he’d inevitably begin knocking back bourbon.
One actor who was no stranger to Wayne’s boozy habits was Ward Bond. A lifelong friend and co-star on 22 films, Bond shared multiple moments (and bottles) with Wayne. The pair’s relationship, however, didn’t start smoothly.
In fact, Wayne once recalled their first encounter with irritation, saying Ward was late for their first film together, Salute, and his dishevelled appearance did not make a good first impresstion. “The last player to arrive, an hour late, a dollar short, one pocket torn, and a gin bottle hanging out of the other, was Ward Bond”, he said in the unpublished, partial manuscript about his life.
Despite this rocky beginning, however, their director, John Ford, saw potential for friendship. In what seemed like a scene from a movie, he locked Wayne and Bond in a room together as a “joke.” It wasn’t long before the two men bonded over “corn whiskey and a few nocturnal escapades,” and their unlikely friendship would last over 30 years until Bond’s death in 1960.
On one fateful day, however, their friendship would take a particularly fiery turn. After a long day of filming, Wayne was eager to head out for a drink, but Bond, unusually sober, declined. Bond opted to rest instead, much to Wayne’s frustration. Not one to give up easily, Wayne noticed a bottle of vodka nearby and saw an opportunity for some mischief.
Without a second thought, he poured the vodka onto Bond’s chest and set it alight, turning his friend into a ball of fire, if only for a few seconds. Bond, however, simply got up, extinguished the flames, and, showing no signs of anger, agreed that perhaps a few drinks were indeed necessary after all. The moment was just another example of the playful (yet concerning at times) humour that defined their relationship.
When Bond passed away at the age of 60, his will provided one last playful jab at Wayne. He left the shotgun with which Wayne had accidentally shot him in the rear during one of their many on-set misadventures.
“We were the closest of friends,” Wayne said in his eulogy for Bond. “From school days right on through. This is the way Ward would have wanted it – to look out on the faces of good friends. He was a wonderful, generous, big-hearted man”.