John Wayne shared the screen with countless stars over the course of his career, but it was a horse named Dollor who became his most cherished co-star in the final years of his life
John Wayne, the undisputed icon of Hollywood’s golden years with strong Irish roots, built a career that spanned several decades and established his name as a legendary presence on-screen.
He shared the limelight with industry giants like Jimmy Stewart and Maureen O’Hara – whose unscriped line in The Quiet Man left him stunned – but it was Dollar, the horse, who emerged as Wayne’s most valued co-star towards the end of his acting journey.
Their bond peaked during the making of The Shootist, Wayne’s swan song, where Dollar was more than just an animal actor; he was essential to the film’s narrative, leading Wayne to request a script modification to properly acknowledge his equine friend.
Despite featuring in numerous Westerns, Wayne was candid about his indifference toward horses. His biographer Michael Munn was privy to Wayne’s confession: “I’ve never really liked horses and I daresay not many of them liked me too much.”
For years, Wayne simply used the horses supplied by movie studios. But as he grew older, his sentiment towards these animals changed, particularly with Dollor, who joined him in Big Jake (1971), reports the Express.
This four-legged friend became a constant feature in Wayne’s later Western films.
Wayne was a towering figure at 6’4″, yet Dollor matched him perfectly, proving to be strong, dependable, and imposing. In an unexpected turn of emotions, Wayne developed a deep attachment to Dollor, marking a touching chapter in his illustrious career.
Wayne was so fond of Dollor that he ensured the horse would be his exclusive co-star. He reportedly had a contract with Dick Webb Movie Productions to ensure no other actor could ride Dollor on film. By the time Wayne was filming The Shootist in 1976, his health was deteriorating and his fight with cancer was well known.
Concurrently, the movie’s plot centered around an aging gunfighter named J.B. Books (played by Wayne) grappling with his own mortality. During the production of The Shootist, Wayne insisted on a script change to allow his character, J.B. Books, to call the horse by name-“Ol’ Dollor. ” This minor but meaningful change was a tribute to the horse that had become an integral part of his life and career.
In The Shootist, Dollor played a pivotal role, contributing to the emotional journey of Wayne’s character. The bond between J.B. Books and the young man, Gillom (played by Ron Howard), was strengthened through their mutual care for the horse.
As the movie unfolds, Gillom becomes increasingly captivated by Books and his legendary reputation, with Dollor often appearing in the background as a symbol of Books’ past and the legacy he will leave behind. In a final act of kindness and passing of the torch, Books gifts Dollor to Gillom the night before his death.
John Wayne’s final film, The Shootist, was in the running for an Oscar (for Best Art Direction, now known as Best Production Design), a Golden Globe, a BAFTA film award, and a Writers Guild of America award. It also boasts an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.