John Wayne’s career in Hollywood spanned several decades, with a vast body of work that solidified him as one of the most iconic actors of all time.
Throughout his works, he appeared alongside numerous legendary stars, from Jimmy Stewart to Maureen O’Hara – but it was a horse named Dollor who became his most cherished and loyal co-star, especially in the final years of his career.
This partnership culminated in their work together on The Shootist, Wayne’s last film, where Dollor played an integral role, and where Wayne insisted on a script change to honor his beloved animal companion.
Despite starring in countless Westerns, Wayne openly admitted to not particularly liking horses. In a conversation with biographer Michael Munn, Wayne revealed, “I’ve never really liked horses and I daresay not many of them liked me too much.”
For much of his early career, Wayne simply rode the horses that were provided to him by the studios. However, as he got older, something shifted in his feelings toward horses, and by the time he starred in Big Jake in 1971, he found a companion in Dollor, a horse that would feature in all of his later Westerns.
Though Wayne stood at 6’4”, his new companion was an ideal fit for the size and stature of the star. Dollor was sturdy, reliable, and imponent, and in a rare shift in perspective, Wayne grew deeply fond of his equine partner.
In fact, Wayne was so attached to Dollor that he even made sure that the horse would be his exclusive co-star. According to reports, Wayne had a contract drawn up with Dick Webb Movie Productions to ensure that no other actor would be allowed to ride Dollor on film.
By the time Wayne was making The Shootist in 1976, his health had begun to decline, and his battle with cancer was well underway. At the same time, the film’s plot revolved around an aging gunfighter named J.B. Books (played by Wayne) who is coming to terms with his mortality.
That was the time when, during the production of The Shootist, Wayne insisted on a change to the script to allow his character, J.B. Books, to call the horse by name—“Ol’ Dollor.”This small but significant alteration was a tribute to the horse that had become an inseparable part of his life and career.
In The Shootist, Dollor ended up playing a central role, contributing to the emotional arc of Wayne’s character. The bond between J.B. Books and the young man, Gillom (played by Ron Howard), was deepened through their shared care for the horse.
As the film progresses, Gillom becomes increasingly fascinated with Books and the legendary status that precedes him, and Dollor is often present in the background as a symbol of Books’ past and the legacy he will leave behind. Ultimately, in a final act of kindness and passing of the torch, Books gives Dollor to Gillom the night before his death.
The Shootist, John Wayne’s last film, was nominated for an Oscar (for Best Art Direction, today called Best Production Design), a Golden Globe, a BAFTA film award, and a Writers Guild of America award, and has an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.