John Wayne is not only the only actor to place posthumously on this annual Harris Poll that asks Americans who their favorite actor is, the Duke is also the only actor — living or dead — to find a slot on this poll every year since the survey began in 1994:
In 2011 he was the voice of Rango, he was Captain Jack Sparrow (again) and he was also a journalist. And, again this year, Johnny Depp has the distinction of being America’s Favorite Actor. Next on the list are two actors who haven’t actually acted in a movie this past year. Tied for number two are Denzel Washington, who was in the second spot last year, and Clint Eastwood who was number 9 on the list last year.These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,237 adults surveyed online between December 5 and 12, 2011 by Harris Interactive .
Rounding out the top five favorite actors is Larry Crowne or rather Tom Hanks in the number 4 spot, up from a tie for number 6 last year, and at number 5 the only actor to have been on this list since it began in 1994, the Duke himself, John Wayne down from the number 3 spot last year.
After being part of a three-way tie for number 6 last year, George Clooney now holds that position by himself. Up from number 10 to number 7 is Sandra Bullock who is the only woman in the top ten and dropping from number 4 to number 8 is Harrison Ford. There are two new additions to the list this year. At number 9, returning to the top ten after a two year absence is Will Smith and debuting at number 10 is funny man Adam Sandler.
Here’s this year’s breakdown:
1. Johnny Depp
2. The Mighty Denzel Washington, The Mighty Clint Eastwood (tie)
4. Tom Hanks
5. The Mighty John Wayne
6. George Clooney
7. Sandra Bullock
8. The Once-Mighty Harrison Ford
9. Will Smith
10. Adam Sandler
What does almost every name on this list have in common? Manly men and a womanly woman.
More please, Hollywood.
And out of every classic movie star from the Golden Age: Bogart, Cagney, Cooper, Gable, Tracy, Davis, Crawford… Why John Wayne? It’s very simple; he’s one of the greatest actors to ever walk across the silver screen, he’s the greatest movie star Hollywood ever produced, he starred in at least a half-dozen outright masterpieces, a dozen classics, and too many crowd-pleasers to count.
The only close second in this arena is Eastwood, who will surely join Wayne on this list long after his death.
It really is that simple. America loves John Wayne and America loves John Wayne movies.
Richard Corliss in 2007:
Forget the youthquake. What America really loves is… old. Whatever Wayne represents – the Old Testament God, a Mount Rushmore face with a permanent scowl, the craggy soul of Frontier or Sunbelt America[.] …
Will Hollywood take any lessons from this poll – say, to make movies with, and for, older people. Nah. The moguls have read the small print in the Harris poll, and noted that it was weighted for many variables, but not to mirror the average age of moviegoers.
That’s exactly what Hollywood did and does, which is why we get Ryan Reynolds and Michelle Williams — boys and girls playing men and women. There’s a whole audience out there hungry for movies and movie stars. But we want intelligent movies, mature films that ennoble the human spirit, not corrupt it. Unfortunately, those are the most difficult stories to tell, and too many of those in charge of the miracle of motion pictures lack the talent and humanity to deliver that kind of entertainment. So they cater to their own mentality, the immature. All hail Seth Rogen.
Thank God for home video. John Wayne lives.
Me in 2009:
Wayne was the most popular and enduring star while alive and remains so today because he also represents honesty, justice, truth, liberty, America, fighting for what you believe in, integrity, chivalry, and most importantly in this awful era of the metrosexual, Wayne represents good ole’ give-a-punch/take-a-punch/have-a-drink-and-laugh-about-it-later masculinity.
John Wayne in his final film, “The Shootist”:
I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a-hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.
Yep.
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