On April 9, 1979, at the Oscars, Hollywood paused for a powerful moment as John Wayne took the stage.
Just months earlier, a routine surgery revealed stomach cancer, leading to the removal of his entire stomach. At 72, he had already survived lung cancer and heart surgery, making his appearance even more remarkable.
Thin but smiling, Wayne received a standing ovation. “That’s just about the only medicine a fellow would ever really need,” he said, drawing cheers and emotion from the crowd.
He went on to present Best Picture, awarding The Deer Hunter, in what became his final public appearance.
Weeks later, after further health complications, Wayne passed away on June 11, 1979. His legacy lived on through his family, who later founded the John Wayne Cancer Institute in his honor.