John Wayne's autopsy rumours from stomach removal to 40 pounds of fecal matter

26 February 2024 , 21:09

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Cowboy superstar John Wayne died after battling stomach cancer almost 45 years ago (Image: No credit)

Cowboy superstar John Wayne died after battling stomach cancer almost 45 years ago.

The actor had been diagnosed with the disease just five months before his death. Fans were devastated when John died and it didn't take long for some people to come up with some bizarre theories about his death.

Some reports suggested John's cancer was related to his carnivore diet and one rumor suggested an autopsy found 40 pounds of impacted fecal matter in the actor's system, which many believed came from red meat. Here, we've taken a look at all of the theories surrounding The Duke's death.

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40 pounds of fecal matter

He also underwent a routine gall bladder procedure (Getty Images)

John did have his stomach removed (Corbis via Getty Images)

In 1999, rumours started circulating on early internet forums that pounds of impacted fecal matter had been found in John's system. Fact check site Snapes quotes one user as writing: "By the way, when they did an autopsy on John Wayne (Mr. Macho himself) 40 pounds of impacted fecal matter was removed from his death inducing cancerous colon."

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"That's because Humans are not evolved for Animal eating. Animal fats lodge in the folds and pockets of our intestines. Carnivores have smooth intestinal linings and do not have these problems."

Journalist Cathy Hainer made the same claims in an article published in USA Today. However, no evidence has been found to support the theory.

Radiation exposure

John Wayne died of stomach cancer (Getty Images)

Smoking was believed to have had an impact on John's likelihood of developing cancer. According to The New York Times, The Duke smoked up to five packets of cigarettes a day, or 100 cigarettes in total. He then had lung cancer treatment in 1964 and had most of his left lung removed.

Another unproven theory claims the actor had an elevated risk of cancer as a result of radiation exposure. John had starred in the 1954 movie The Conqueror, which was filmed in the desert in Utah.

At the same time, the United States Atomic Energy Commission detonated more than 100 nuclear bombs as part of the Manhattan Project. This turned large parts of the desert into dangerous zone of radioactive fallout.

A year after John's death, People magazine issued a report highlighting the high cancer rates among the film's cast and crew members. By 1980, 91 out of 220 people had been diagnosed with cancer while 46 had died.

Stomach removal

He was described as a 'mean drunk' (Getty Images)

John Wayne did have his stomach removed, however, it wasn't done during the actor's autopsy. In January 1979, just months before his death, surgeons removed the actor's stomach in a nine-hour operation after a malignancy was found while he was undergoing a routine gall bladder procedure.

At the time, the administrator of the hospital, Bernard Strohm, released a statement which said: "During the removal of John Wayne's gall stones and gall bladder, an unusual type of lowgrade malignant tumor of the stomach was discovered and which required a more extensive operation for its complete removal. Mr. Wayne tolerated the procedure well and the tumor was completely removed. His current condition is satisfactory."

"His prognosis is excellent." He added: "There are many many people in this world without stomachs who indeed function very well."

Heavy drinking

There have been questions raised about his cancer diagnosis (Getty Images)

John was known for his heavy drinking. Sam O'Steen claimed in his 2001 book Cut to the Chase that studio directors had to shoot scenes with John before noon because he would become a "mean drunk" after an afternoon drinking session.

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The actor's drinking was also discussed by his son, Ethan. He said the pair would go sailing in a yacht and claimed when they pulled up to an iceberg, John would chip some off for his drink.

"He always went for bourbon over generic whiskey. If he wanted a drink it was bourbon or tequila," he told the Daily Beast in 2018.

Natalie Hunter