John Wayne’s Only TV Western Role and Its Connection to a Blockbuster Movie

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Although John Wayne was famous for appearing in over 80 Western films, he only starred in one Western television show – a 1960 episode of Wagon Train. Years before, he was originally considered for the role of Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, but he ultimately recommended his friend James Arness for the part instead.

Despite starring in many Western films over several decades, John Wayne never appeared in a major role on a TV series. While Westerns became incredibly popular on television from the late 1950s, he continued to be a leading figure of classic Hollywood cinema, focusing on the big screen.

Surprisingly, a single TV appearance in a Western actually foreshadowed the role John Wayne would play in a John Ford Western film just two years later. This showed that the difference between Westerns made for television and those made for the big screen wasn’t as significant as people thought. While Wayne was primarily a movie star, he was happy to make a quick appearance on television when the opportunity arose.

John Wayne’s 1960 Cameo In Wagon Train Was His Only Acting Role In A Western TV Show

John Wayne made a surprise appearance on the TV show Wagon Train in an episode called “The Colter Craven Story,” which originally aired on NBC in November 1960. The appearance was kept so secret that viewers don’t even see his face during the cameo.

Those familiar with John Wayne’s iconic film roles would have instantly known it was his voice during that scene. He appeared near the end of this hour-long Wagon Train special, with his character arriving on a Civil War battlefield to deliver important news to General Ulysses S. Grant.

Wayne Played General William Tecumseh Sherman In Wagon Train

Paul Birch, playing the character Sam, was speaking with Seth Adams (played by Ward Bond) when John Wayne’s character interrupted. Wayne, portraying General William Tecumseh Sherman, announced, “Sam, Buell’s arrived, so we can continue fighting tomorrow.” Sherman was a fellow Union Army leader alongside Sam Grant during the American Civil War.

It would have been easy to miss the Duke’s brief appearance on screen, except for his unique way of speaking. Throughout the scene, the camera only showed Sherman’s back. However, just two years later, John Wayne would play General Sherman in a much more prominent role in a major movie.

The Movie How The West Was Won Saw Wayne Reprise His Wagon Train Role

The epic film How the West Was Won featured John Wayne and James Stewart, along with many other famous actors. Interestingly, this wasn’t the only time Wayne and Stewart appeared together in a John Ford film that year – they also co-starred in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

John Wayne revisited his role from Wagon Train, portraying General Sherman in a scene with Harry Morgan as Ulysses S. Grant. The scene depicted Wayne’s character convincing Grant to stay in the army after the Battle of Shiloh, a crucial moment in the American Civil War.

Even though John Wayne’s appearance in How the West Was Won was brief, it added significant weight and seriousness to the film’s portrayal of a key event in American history. While his performance was a good fit for the story, it’s likely that his work on Wagon Train inspired Ford to cast him in the role.

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2025-11-26 05:29