June 11, 1979. Din Martin enters Lucla Medical Center at 2:30 in the morning. there is no cameras, no press, just one man 61 year old walking through empty hallways towards room 847. The security guards recognize it, but they don’t say anything. They know why it is there. They know what’s about witness will change the king of cul to always. Din comes to the door.
your hand It trembles when he opens it. And what another sees side makes his knees almost give way. John Wayne, the toughest man in Hollywood, the symbol of masculinity American, weighs just 140 pounds. Your skin is yellow, his eyes are sunk, but when he sees Din, he smiles. Dino, whispers with a voice that once made nations tremble.
I knew that you would come What happened in that room for the next three hours was never reported by the media. John Wayne would die 5 days later and De Martin never spoke publicly about that night until now. This is the story of the last conversation between two legends. one story of friendship, regret and the promise that Dean Martin would make with the bed of a dying man.
one promise that would change the rest of your life. To understand the magnitude of What happened that night in June 1979, first you need to understand the relationship between Dean Martin and John Wayne. In the surface made no sense as friends. John Wayne was a conservative, staunch republican, a man who I believed in God, country and the dream American without irony.
He was serious, direct and carried the weight of the world on his shoulders shoulders as if it were their responsibility staff. Dean. Martin was the opposite Exactly, he was the king of the carelessness, the man who made everything seemed easy, that I drank or pretended drinking on stage, making jokes above all and that he had built a entire career in not taking anything too seriously.
Jongne represented Hollywood’s old guard. Din Martin represented the new wave of Rat Pack, Las Vegas and the culture of everything, okay? They shouldn’t have gotten along, but they adored each other. Your friendship started in 1959 on the set of Río Bravo, directed by Howard Hawks. Dean had been chosen to play Dude, a sheriff alcoholic deputy trying redeem yourself. Wayne was Sheriff John T.
Chance. On the first day of filming, Wayne was skeptical. I had heard the stories about Dan, the Ratpack guy that he was late, that he didn’t take serious performance, which he improvised in instead of learning his lines. Wayne doesn’t I had time for that one but then something happened that changed everything.
There was a scene where Din had to play guitar and sing My Rifle, My Pony and Me with Ricky Nelson. It was a emotional, vulnerable scene, where Dude He finally shows his humanity. When Hawks yelled, “Action!” Din se transformed. There were no jokes, there were no winks at the camera, just pure acting, honest, heartbreaking.
When the Here, the set was silent. Even the technical team had tears in their eyes eyes. John Wayne approached Din and He put a hand on her shoulder. you are the real deal, Dino,” Wayne said with that unmistakable voice. I thought it was just another night club clown. I was wrong. Dean smiled. That means that I am not fired. Wayne laughed.
one deep, rumbling laughter. It means that you are my kind of man. And so it was born a friendship that would last 20 years. They were not the kind of friends that everyone saw days. They didn’t take vacations together. No They called constantly, but there was a mutual respect, deep admiration that transcended their political differences and personal.
Wayne respected that Din He was a professional, that when it mattered Din delivered, that underneath all the I don’t care façade, there was a serious artist. And Din respected that Wayne It was genuine, that what you saw was what you got, that Wayne lived by code of honor that was disappearing from Hollywood.
Throughout the 60s and 70 stayed in touch. If they sent messages through friends mutuals. Occasionally they met at industry parties and always, Without fail, when they saw each other, Wayne would say the same. Dino, I still remember that one song in Rí Bravo. That was acting Real, friend. Din always laughed. Duke, that was 20 years ago. Get over it.
but secretly he loved it because approval of John Wayne meant something. Wayne didn’t dole out praise like sweets. When Wayne said you were well, you were good. January 1979, Hollywood was shaken by news devastating. John Wayne had cancer. Once again he had already fought against him lung cancer in 1964, losing one lung and part of the other in surgery.
survived that through pure willpower and stubbornness, but this time it was different. This time the cancer was in his stomach and he was spreading fast. The doctors They gave months, maybe weeks. Wayne,being Wayne, he refused to give up. If underwent surgery, underwent chemotherapy. lost weight dramatically.
His skin took on a tone sickly yellow, but still appearing in public, using his wig, smiling for the cameras, insisting that he was fine. I defeated to this bastard before. He told the reporters. I will defeat him again. but the people close to him knew the truth. John Wayne was dying and he was terrified.
Not terrified of death in yes. Wayne had made peace with his mortality decades ago. had flown too many dangerous missions during the war. I had ridden too many wild horses. had lived too close to the edge to fear the final. No, what terrified John Wayne It was the idea of dying alone, that when If that final moment came, I would be surrounded by doctors and nurses who They knew him as a patient, not as a man.
I wanted to be surrounded by friends, from people who knew him before Was John Wayne, when it was just Marion Morrison of Winterset, Iowa. But the The problem was that most of those friends were already gone. Wart Bond, died 1960. Howard Hawks, retired and ill, John Ford, died 1973. The men of the old guard were disappearing one by one and Wayne I felt more and more alone.
In May 1979, Wayne was admitted to Lucla Medical Center. Officially it was for routine procedures. Unofficially everyone knew what it was the beginning of the end. His family was there, of course, his children, his ex-wives, his grandchildren, they all did turn sitting with him, holding him hand, telling him they loved him.
but Wayne wanted something more. I wanted to say goodbye of the people who had defined their professional life, men with who had worked, fought and created cinematic magic. Made a list, It was short, only five names. The first it was James Stewart. jimmy came immediately. They spent an afternoon together talking about the old days, about westerns, about the golden age of Hollywood that was fading.
When Stuart left, I was crying. The second was Maurin Ohara, his Favorite co-star. flew from Ireland to see him, held his hand and he sang Irish songs to her while he fell asleep. The third was Ron Howard, who had worked with Wayne and the Shootist, the last Wayne movie about a gunslinger dying of cancer.
The irony is not escaped anyone. The fourth was Frank Sinatra. Frank visited briefly, but It was uncomfortable. Frank and Wayne had never been close. They respected the work of another, but they came from different worlds. The fifth name on the list was Dean Martin. Wayne had asked his son Michael to call Din. Tell Dino I would like to see it if you have time.
Michael made the call on June 10. Dean was home in Beverly Hills when the phone rang. He recognized the Michael Wayne voice immediately. Din, it’s about my father. Din felt that his stomach tightened. how bad is it? Bad. The doctors say maybe have a week, two if you’re lucky. Michael paused. You are asking for you, Din. He wants to see you.
Din looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Din, you don’t have to come now. Morning is fine or tomorrow. No, Din said, already looking for his keys. car. I’ll be there in 20 minutes. because Din Martin understood something that many people I didn’t understand about him. Underneath all the Cool façade, beneath all the jokes about being lazy and carefree, Tin Martin was fiercely loyal to the people he cared about and John Wayne He cared.
Tin Martin arrived in Lukla Medical Center at 2:17 a.m. early morning of June 11, 1979. The hospital was practically empty that time. Only security guards, some night shift nurses and the occasional sounds of machines doctors beeping in the distance. tin He walked the halls like a man going to his own execution. I knew these hallways.
had visited too many friends in this hospital. Sammy When you had your car accident, Frank, after his collapse, his own mother, Before he died, he hated this place. It smelled like death and disinfectant. When arrived at room 847, He stopped in front of the door. breathed deep. He prepared himself for what was about to see, but nothing could have prepared. He opened the door gently.
The room was dimly illuminated, just a small lamp in the corner medical machines They hummed softly and there in the bed hospital was John Wayne. But it wasn’t the John Wayne the world knew. No He was the broad-shouldered cowboy who had galloped through 100 movies. He was not the war hero that had inspired generations.
This was a man reduced to almost nothing. Your body was consumed by cancer. His skin was yellow and stretched overhis bones. He had tubes coming out of his arms, an oxygen mask over his face. Din felt his throat tighten. closed He felt tears stinging his eyes, but then Wayne’s eyes turned They opened and when he saw Din, he smiled.
that unmistakable John Wayne smile. If He removed the oxygen mask. Tino, he whispered, his voice hoarse and weak. I knew that you would come Din approached the bed, sat in the chair next to her. By Of course I came, Duke. What kind of friend would it be if he didn’t come? Wayne laughed, which triggered a coughing fit that It took him a minute to recover.
When He finally did it, he looked at Din with wide eyes. that they had seen too much pain. you look like a dino Din laughed at despite himself. You don’t look so either Well, Duke Tuch. There was a moment of silence. Not uncomfortable. Just two old men friends sitting together without needing fill the space with empty words.
Finally, Wayne spoke. Do you remember Rio Bravo? Of course I remember. It was 20 ago years. Duke, I don’t have Alzheimer’s. Wayne he smiled. That scene where you sing with Ricky. My rifle, my pony and me. still I think about that scene. Duke, you already did it to me said like a thousand times.
Because it was real, Dino. It was the most real thing I’ve ever seen. in a movie. Wayne looked at the ceiling. Do you know what’s funny? I made more than 150 movies in my life. I saved the world 100 times, I killed 1000 Indians, I won all wars, but none of those movies felt as real as those 3 minutes with you singing about your rifle and your pony.
Din didn’t know what to say, so He didn’t say anything, he just took her hand. Wayne, the hand that was once strong and capable was now fragile, almost translucent. I’m scared, Dino,” Wayne whispered. Those three words They hit Din like a punch. John Wayne, the man who had never shown fear in his life, he had just admit that he was scared.
“To die”, Din asked softly. Not to be forgotten. Wayne turned to look at Din. “I’m dying and I know it. The doctors give me a week, maybe less.” And that’s okay. I’ve lived a good life. I have done things that I’m proud, but, Dino, I’m afraid that in 20, 30 years people will forget, that all this I built, everything I represented, just disappear.
Dean squeezed his Wayne’s hand. Duke, you’re John Wayne. Nobody is going to forget you. You are a legend. Legends die, Dino. Hollywood is a city with a goldfish memory. The Next young guy arrives and the old guy is forgotten. It’s like that. Din leaned towards forward. Listen to me, Duke, and listen to me good. You’re not just an actor.
you are a symbol. You are what America thinks when you think of courage, of honor, of do the right thing, even when it’s difficult. The children who grew up seeing you they will continue telling their children about you and their children They will tell their children. That doesn’t die. Wayne smiled weakly.
you always were good with words, Dino. They are not Just words, Duke. It’s the truth. There was another silence. Then Wayne spoke. your voice even weaker. Now I have to tell you Something, something I’ve never told nobody. I’m listening. Wayne breathed. deep, which clearly caused pain. When we did Rio Bravo, I was going through a bad time.
my marriage compile was collapsing. The studio was pressuring me to make movies I didn’t want to make. I was drinking too much. I thought about leave everything. I thought about just leaving, buy a ranch somewhere and disappear. Dean was surprised. No I had idea. Why didn’t you do it? By you, Din blinked. What? For you, Dino.
Watching you perform on that set, watching you take your I work seriously, see you matter even When you pretended you didn’t care, I remembered why I fell in love with doing movies first. It was not about of fame, it wasn’t about the money, it was It was about telling stories, it was about to make people feel something.
Wayne coughed again. When recovered, he continued. so i want thank you for saving my career, for remind me who he was, for being my friend when I needed it, although not even You knew I needed it. Din felt tears running down her face. No tried to stop them. Duke, me. let me finish. Wayne interrupted.
I have one one more thing to say and I need you to promise something Whatever, Duke Wayne he took Din’s hand with both hands now, holding it with all the strength that he had left. Promise me not you will waste the rest of your life, Dino. Din was confused. what you mean? I mean I know about you.
I know you’ve been on pilot automatic for years, doing shows because that’s what you do, singing the songs because it is what is expected, but you’re not really living. You are just going through the motions. Din tried to protest, but Wayne He interrupted. Don’t lie to me, Dino. You I know. I can see it in your eyes. That spark that you had in Río Bravo has gonegone.
You have become exactly what you pretended to be The guy who doesn’t care for nothing and that breaks my heart because I know there is more to you than that. Wayne coughed violently. a nurse She ran in, but Wayne sent her away. with a gesture of the hand. When recovered, he looked at Din with an intense intensity. fierce Promise me that when you get out of this room you will live again.
You will really live. Stop pretending. Let to hide behind the jokes and the character. Find something that matters to you and fight for it. Because Dino, you are running out of time. We all are. and wasting what you have left would be biggest crime of all. Din was crying openly now. you I promise, Duke. I promise you.
Wayne he nodded satisfied. Okay, now get out here. I don’t want you to remember me like that. I want you to remember me in Rí Bravo when we were both young and thinking that we would live forever. Din got standing, he leaned down and kissed her forehead Wayne. I love you, Duke. I love you too, Dino.
Now get out before Let’s start crying like two babies. Din He headed to the door. When he arrived, he came back one last time. John Wayne he greeted. That perfect military salute that had done in 100 films. tin returned the greeting and then left the room. Tin Martin walked through the halls of Lucla Medical Center in a daze.
He didn’t go directly to her car. Instead, he found a room empty wait He sat down and cried. cried by John Wayne. He cried for the old times and cried for himself for the years I had wasted pretending that he didn’t care about anything. When Finally he dried his eyes and went outside. parking lot, the sun was rising. It was a new day and Din Martin took a decision.
He was going to keep his promise to Duke. I was going to start living again. The next five days were a agony for Din. I called the hospital every day asking about Wayne. The reports were not good. Wayne was deteriorating rapidly. Your family was there constantly. The Priests came and went. June 11 from 1979, 5 days after Din’s visit, John Wayne died at 5:35 pm.
I was 72 years. The news shook the world. John Wayne, the last cowboy, the symbol of American masculinity, was gone. The funeral was massive. Hundreds of people attended, presidents, actors, ordinary fans, they all came to say goodbye to the duke. Din Martin It was there, of course. He sat on the back side wearing sunglasses hide your swollen eyes.
During the service, several people spoke about Wayne, they talked about his courage, his patriotism, his legacy. But Din doesn’t He spoke, he couldn’t. If I got on that podium, would collapse. And I didn’t want people I saw it like that. After the funeral, in the reception, Frank Sinatra approached Din. Are you okay, friend? Din nodded.
It I will be I just need a little time. Frank put a hand on Din’s shoulder. You visited him, right? Before would die Yes, they talked. Din looked at Frank. Yes, we talked about many things. frank He waited, but Din did not elaborate. some secrets were sacred. He loved you, You know, Frank finally said. always He was talking about Rí Bravo.
He said that you were the best actor he ever worked with. Din felt tears stinging again. I wanted it too. after death by John Wayne, something changed in Din Martin. People close to him noticed immediately. His daughter Dina said more late, dad was different after Duke died, more present, more committed, as if he had finally woken up from a long sleep.
Din began to make decisions They surprised everyone. First he canceled several shows in Las Vegas that there were scheduled, just routine shows where he would have come out, sung the songs, made the jokes and collected the check. No more autopilot he told her to his manager. If I’m going to do a show, to mean something.
Second, he began to spend more time with your family, especially with his son Dean Paul, who at that time was a pilot in the Air National Guard. It had never been the kind of father who attended all the recitals or games. I was too busy, too focused on his race, but now he was making an effort. He called Dim Pleas. I was going to see it fly.
They had dinner together regularly. Dad was really there, Din Paul would later recall. No physically there, but with your mind in another place. really there doing you ask, listening, caring. Third, Din started looking for projects that mattered to him, not just any movie or TV show, but things that They had meaning. In 1980 accepted a role in a TV movie called The Cannon Ball Run, just because one of his old friends, Bert Reynolds, He asked him personally and Dean had fun doing it because it was with friends. Not just a job. In 1983,when Frank Sinatra proposed a tour of
Radpack meeting, Din initially He said no, but then he thought about what Wayne had told him. Find something that You care and fight for it. Din was given he realized that he cared about his friendship with Frank and Samy, he cared about the memories they had made together, well who agreed to do the tour, but this time It wasn’t through the motions.
He really showed, he really cared. Fans could tell the difference. Din I was more committed, more present, more alive than in years. It is as if he old Dino would have come back, Sammy told him Davis Jr. to a reporter. I don’t know what It happened, but I’m glad to see my friend from return.
Din also started doing something that I had never done before, talk publicly about John Wayne. Interviews, when they asked him about Duke, Din didn’t just wave standard Hollywood answers, was really talking about the man who knew. Duke was my friend,” he told a journalist in 1984, “not just a colleague or an acquaintance, a true friend and taught me something important before dying.
taught me that life is too short to pretend, too short not to worry, too short to waste on things that don’t matter.” The journalist he pressed. “What exactly did he tell you?” Din smiled. That’s between me and Duke, but Let’s say he kicked me in the rear when he needed it and I will be there always grateful for that.
The promise What Dinan did to Wayne became the guiding principle of his last years. When his son Din Paul died in a plane crash in 1987, Din was devastated. It was the worst pain that he had experienced. But because those years between 1979 and 1987, because he had kept his promise to Duke and had really been present with his son, Din had no regret about your relationship with Din Paul.
They had had those years, those precious years where Din really met his son, where he really went a father And when the time came for Dean Paul’s funeral, Dean was able to get Stand up and talk about your child with love and without regret. He remembered what Wayne had told him. Don’t waste the rest of your life. Din there was not wasted. He had loved his son.
I had been there. And although the pain was unbearable, there was comfort in knowing that he had kept his promise. Dean Martin died on December 25, 1995. He was 78 years old. On your nightstand, Along with photos of his family, there was a framed photo of him and John Wayne in the Rio Bravo set.
Both young, both smiling, both at the top of their minds racing. In the back of the photo, written with the script of Din, There were five words. I kept my promise, Duke. Din’s funeral was private, only family and close friends. But I know sent a written message to the media for Din’s daughter, Diana, it said. my father lived an extraordinary life, he sang, acted and entertained millions.
but what makes me most proud is not his fame or his success, is that in his last years He really lived, he really loved, He really cared. And much of that is we owe it to his friend John Wayne, who It reminded my father what really it matters. The story of the last visit from Din to John Wayne was never made public until years after the funeral of Din.
It was Wayne’s daughter, Aisha, who finally revealed what his father I had told him about that night. daddy me He said that Dean Martin came to visit him at 2 in the morning. Asa remembered in an interview in 2005. I asked him what They talked and dad smiled. he said. I gave it to Dino one last kick in the ass. The Bastard needed her.
I asked him what it meant that. Dad just said, “It means I saved my friend. Of the same way he saved me 20 ago years in Rí Bravo. That’s the beauty of true friendship. It is not about be there only in the good times. If try to be willing to say the difficult truths when your friend needs.” John Wayne told Dean Martin the truth and Dean listened and thanks to that conversation, thanks to that promise made at a man’s bedside dying man, Dean Martin spent the last 16 years of his life really living instead of just existing.
So May the next time you see Rio Bravo, when you see that scene where Din sings My Rifle, My Pony and me, remember that That scene saved John’s career. Wayne. And remember that 20 years later John Wayne returned the favor. saved Dean Martin from a life of going through of the movements. saved his friend and that more than any movie that they did, more than any award that they won, it is the true Lega to continue.
