Appearing in hundreds of films, actor John Wayne
made his mark as a legendary Western hero, solidifying his status as an icon of Hollywood. John Wayne’s Western movies and his heroic characters quickly became popular in the 1940s and propelled him to further stardom. However, despite being best known for his Western movies, Wayne took on a variety of roles in different genres that highlight his versatility as an actor.

From lighthearted yet dramatic romantic comedies to high-stakes, action-heavy war movies, Wayne perfected the art of playing the role of a tough and courageous hero. Wayne’s tough guy persona made him the perfect lead across genres, whether he was entrenched in war and shouting orders or fighting his fears during disaster situations. Toughness can be hard to define, but Wayne’s non-Western hero characters are a broad range of strong and formidable that audiences couldn’t help but root for.

5

Sean Thornton

The Quiet Man (1952)

Sean Thornton may not be a gunslinging Western hero, but the lead of the rom-com movie The Quiet Man is still one of John Wayne’s toughest, and most romantic, characters. A retired boxer, Sean is a formidable opponent who can hold his own in a physical fight. Sean is a compelling, intriguing departure from Wayne’s typical tough-guy roles, and his greatest strength is his ability to exercise restraint after he accidentally kills a young man in the ring. Despite avoiding violence, Sean is willing to get his hands dirty when required.

The long-awaited showdown between Sean and his brother-in-law Squire Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen) is an action-filled affair. The nine-minute fistfight between Sam and Will ends after Sean punches Will and knocks him unconscious. Sean’s calm and non-violent demeanor throughout most of Wayne and Maureen O’Hara’s classic, along with his epic fight with Will, make him one of Wayne’s most unexpectedly tough heroes.

4

Captain Karl Ehrlich

The Sea Chase (1955)

John Wayne’s role in the war movie The Sea Chase provides much-needed variety from the actor’s all-American characters. As Captain Karl Ehrlich, Wayne takes on the role of a German anti-Nazi marine struggling to survive and protect his crew when World War II breaks out, despite being demoted from being a German Navy officer due to his refusal to support the Nazi regime.

Dealing with a German spy in his midst, while being hunted by both the Australian Navy and the British Navy, Captain Ehrlich is able to provide for his crewmates without giving up his morals and continuing to reject the Nazi regime, even under the threat of battle and death. Captain Karl Ehrlich’s strong moral compᴀss and survival skills make him a respectable and tough male lead.

3

Dan Ramon

The High And The Mighty (1954)

The High And The Mighty is an air disaster movie featuring Wayne as the movie’s co-producer and one of the leads. Wayne plays the former captain Dan Ramon, the flight’s first officer. Despite tragically losing his wife and son in the air crash that injured him and left him with a permanent limp, Dan pushes past his fears to serve as the flight’s first officer.

After Dan discovers that a damaged engine and adverse weather conditions mean that the plane risks running out of fuel and being forced to land on the water, he steps up, communicates with the pᴀssengers, and calmly explains the situation. Dan utilizes his years of experience to guide the captain and knock him back to his senses when required. Dan Ramon’s ability to remain level-headed in a crisis, despite losing his family in a crash, makes him another one of Wayne’s toughest characters with incredible mental forтιтude.

2

Detective Lieutenant Lon “McQ” McHugh

McQ (1974)

The neo-noir crime 1970s John Wayne movie McQ came later in the actor’s long and illustrious career. The gritty cop drama stars Wayne as Detective Lieutenant Lon “McQ” McHugh. After his partner, Detective Sergeant Stan Boyle (William Bryant), is sH๏τ alongside two other police officers, McQ embarks on a mission to find the ᴀssailant and get revenge for the murder of his partner.

During this mission, McQ grows suspicious of the police officers he works with. He unravels the mystery of who betrayed his partner while being unable to rely on his team as he investigates corruption in his department. McQ is a one-man army, as the detective manages to uncover who attacked Boyle and takes down a drug dealer and his team all on his own. In the gritty world of cops and drug deals, McQ’s heroics make him the astonishingly tough lead for the neo-noir film.

1

Sergeant John M. Stryker

Sands Of Iwo Jima (1949)

Wayne wasn’t just an icon in Western movies, as he also starred in numerous war movies and portrayed battle-hardened and fearless military leaders. Wayne was nominated for an Oscar for his role of Sergeant John M. Stryker, a gruff and tough leader who is notoriously disliked by his squad in Sands of Iwo Jima. While Stryker’s severe and strict training earns the hatred of his squad, they later see the value of Stryker’s teachings and come to respect him.

Stryker’s toughness is for the sake of his squad’s survival, and his dedication to preparing the men under his command for the harsh realities of war is inspiring. Surviving the brutal conditions of war is difficult, but Stryker has to battle his personal demons while taking responsibility for the men under his command. Sgt. John M. Stryker’s ability to balance his duties and prioritize his squad’s safety makes him John Wayne‘s toughest movie character — at least outside his Westerns.