The actor who inspired John Wayne’s entire persona: “That’s were I learned my mannerisms”
As such a singular presence and towering figure in American cinema, it might be a cliché to say so, but it’s also entirely true that there’s only ever going to be one John Wayne.
After rising to stardom in the late 1930s, ‘The Duke’ carefully cultivated his signature screen persona that became integral to the mythology that gradually built around him. The laconic line delivery, the signature strut, his adherence to the tough guy persona, and outspoken views all became key parts of his legend.
However, Wayne may not have become such a legendary figure in the annals of celluloid were it not for Harry Carey, who turned out to be the single biggest performative inspiration in his career. John Ford may be his most famous collaborator, but ‘The Duke’ as he’s remembered wouldn’t have turned out the way he did were it not for another regular partner.
Wayne and Carey starred together in The Shepherd of the Hills, The Spoilers, Angel and the Badman, and Red River between 1941 and 1948, the latter being a posthumous release after Carey passed away in September 1947 at the age of 69. His son, Harry Carey Jr, and wife, Olive Carey, were also actors, and they’d end up being welcomed into the western superstar’s inner circle, too.
Carey’s boy worked alongside ‘The Duke’ in a number of features, including Rio Bravo and Big Jake, while his spouse was part of the cast in The Wings of Eagles and The Alamo, while the pair of them were present and accounted for on The Searchers as Brad Jorgenson and Mrs Jorgenson respectively.
As recounted in Joseph McBride’s book Searching for John Ford, Wayne told Carey Jr. of the impact his old man had on his entire persona. “I watched your dad since I was a kid,” he said. “I copied Harry Carey. That’s where I learned to talk like I do, that’s where I learned so many of my mannerisms. Watching your father.”
According to Wayne, Carey “projected a quality that we like to think of in men of the West,” which was something he used to shape his own on-screen iconography. The iconic final shot of The Searchers with Ethan Edwards standing in the doorway was a direct homage to Carey, too, with the character cradling his right elbow with his left hand, a pose his hero often used in his own movies.
Carey’s widow was on set that day, standing on the other side of the camera, in what must have been a hugely emotional moment for both of them. If it wasn’t for him, then there wouldn’t be a ‘Duke’ as everyone knows him, which by extension makes the unassuming and prolific performer one of the most quietly influential figures in Hollywood history.