The most famous tributes to John Wayne just weeks before his death

Born in County Dublin, Ireland in 1920, Maureen O’Hara was often asked to play tough, determined women alongside John Wayne. In fact, the two starred in five films together, three of which were westerns. On and off screen, O’Hara and Wayne enjoyed a close relationship. According to Cowboys & Indians, Wayne once called O’Hara “the greatest guy I ever knew.” Of Wayne, O’Hara once said (according to IrishCentral), “It would be nice if all people could be as honest and sincere as he is. That’s a real man.” This was high praise from O’Hara, who spoke rather disparagingly of other Hollywood actors. According to the Irish Examiner, she called Rex Harrison “rude, vulgar and arrogant,” George Montgomery “absolutely disgusting,” and said that working with Jeff Chandler was like “acting with a broomstick.”

As Wayne neared the end of his life, O’Hara spoke out in favor of his Congressional Gold Medal. “I have known John Wayne for 39 years, and in those 39 years I have called him my dearest friend — my best friend… To the people of the world, John Wayne is not just an actor — and a very good actor — John Wayne is the United States of America,” she said, as quoted by Cowboys & Indians. She concluded, “I ask you to strike a medal for Duke and to direct the President to strike it. And I feel that the medal should say only one thing: ‘John Wayne, American.'”