John Wayne may have passed away almost 50 years ago, on June 11, 1979, but his legacy is carried on through the massive family that survives him.
In his 72 years, the Western movie legend, who was born in Winterset, Iowa on May 26, 1907, was married three times, had seven children, a whopping 21 grandchildren.
Several of his children entered the film and television industry — learn all about them here — following in his footsteps, as have some of his 21 grandchildren. Learn all about them below.
© Getty ImagesBrendan Wayne
Brendan, 54, is the son of Mary Antonia Wayne LaCava, one of four children John had with his first wife Josephine Alicia Saenz, and her husband Donald LaCava, to whom she was married from 1956 to 1981. She was born in 1936 and died at age 64 in 2000, and was also a mom to seven other children, Anita Swift, David LaCava, Brigid Casey, Mark LaCava, Peter La Cava, Kevin LaCava, and Christopher LaCava.
Brendan is an actor, as well as a stunt double and producer, his most prominent role being in three seasons of The Mandalorian, as the primary physical performer and body double who plays the titular bounty hunter, who is voiced by Pedro Pascal. He has been married to actress Sara Arrington since 2000.
© Getty ImagesJennifer Wayne
Jennifer, 44, is the daughter of Aissa Wayne — one of three children John had with his third wife Pilar Pallete — and her first husband Earle Lawrence Kuhle II, to whom she was married from 1981 to 1984. Aissa, 70, is also a mom to Nicholas Kuhle, and Anastasia Pilar Gionis, who she welcomed with Thomas A. Gionis, her husband from 1986 to 1988.
Jennifer is a country singer, previously part of the country trio Stealing Angels and, since 2015, the country music group Runaway June. She was previously married to fellow country singer Austin Moody, with whom she shares a daughter born in 2022.
© Getty ImagesJohn's 19 other grandchildren
John's 19 other grandchildren have largely led private lives and little is known about them, though some reportedly work with the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum in his native Iowa, and manage family legacy projects.
In addition to Brendan and Jennifer, as well as the former's seven siblings through his mother Mary Antonia, and the latter's two siblings through her mother Aissa, the remaining 10 Wayne grandchildren are: through Patrick Wayne, one of John's four kids with Josephine, Melanie, Anthony and Michael; through Marisa, born to Pilar, Duke and Carmela Ditteaux; through Michael, whose mom was also Josephine, Alicia, Teresa, Maria, Christopher, and Josephine.
