John Wayne Repeatedly Portrayed Iconic Character in 8 Films of 51-Movie Western Franchise

John Wayne, a legendary figure in Western cinema, is not typically associated with sequels. However, he remarkably reprised the same character eight times within the beloved Three Mesquiteers franchise from the 1930s. Over his illustrious career, Wayne appeared in approximately 80 Western films. Despite initially showcasing his versatility across various genres, he ultimately embraced his role as a cowboy; even in his final film, The Shootist, Wayne remained true to his Western roots. During Wayne’s rise to prominence, Hollywood had a different attitude towards sequels and franchises, often viewing them unfavorably. Notably, apart from his famous portrayal of Rooster Cogburn, Wayne avoided the trend of sequels for most of his career.

Interestingly, there was consideration for a sequel to his successful war film, Sands of Iwo Jima, titled Devil Birds. However, this film never materialized, leaving fans to speculate how the plot would have addressed the fate of Wayne’s character, the deceased Stryker. During Hollywood’s so-called “Golden Age,”it was rare for franchises to sprout from even blockbuster films, which helps explain Wayne’s minimalist approach to reprising roles throughout his cinematic journey.

John Wayne’s Role In The Mesquiteers Franchise Explained

The Three Mesquiteers: A Major Series of Its Time

John Wayne in The Three Mesquitters movie Overland Stage Raiders

Wayne faced a significant setback in his career when his 1930 film, The Big Trail, failed to perform as expected, delaying his rise to stardom by nearly a decade. Following this, he featured in numerous low-budget Westerns known as “Poverty Row”films. One of Wayne’s standout early projects was The Three Mesquiteers, a serial Western that comprised an impressive 51 films released between 1936 and 1943. Although Wayne did not appear in every entry, he played the character Stony Brooke a total of eight times.

Wayne’s breakout moment came with the classic film Stagecoach in 1939, leading him to exit The Three Mesquiteers after the film titled New Frontier the same year. Notably, Stony Brooke is the character Wayne portrayed most frequently, with all his appearances occurring in 1938 and 1939. The series centered on the escapades of the trio, Stony Brooke, Tucson Smith, and Lullaby Joslin, blending elements of traditional Westerns and adventure films, and often featuring a rotating cast.

John Wayne’s Films in The Three Mesquiteers	Release Year
Pals of the Saddle	1938
Overland Stage Raiders	1938
Santa Fe Stampede	1938
Red River Range	1938
The Night Riders	1939
Three Texas Steers	1939
Wyoming Outlaw	1939
New Frontier	1939

Before Wayne assumed the role of Stony Brooke, that character was originally played by Bob Livingston an impressive 29 times. Tom Tyler continued with the franchise afterward. Tucson Smith was portrayed by actors Ray Corrigan and Bob Steele, while Lullaby Joslin was represented by four different actors, including Max Terhune, Jimmie Dodd, Rufe Davis, and Syd Saylor. After New Frontier, Wayne established himself with his pivotal role in Stagecoach, marking the start of his ascent in Hollywood.

Which Other Roles Did John Wayne Play More Than Once?

A Brief Overview of John Wayne’s Film Series

John Wayne talking to Katharine Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn

After his tenure with The Three Mesquiteers, Wayne largely steered clear of sequels for the next four decades. His only significant sequel is Rooster Cogburn, released in 1975, where he returned to the role of the eyepatched lawman, a character for which he had previously won an Oscar. This sequel, however, did not echo the success of its predecessor, True Grit, even with the addition of screen legend Katharine Hepburn.

Furthermore, Wayne’s work, often referred to as a loose trilogy, consists of films like Rio Bravo, El Dorado, and Rio Lobo. While not direct sequels, these films share similar themes, characters, and plots, reimagined under director Howard Hawks’ vision. Additionally, in his only horror-themed movie, Haunted Gold, Wayne portrayed a character named John Mason. Interestingly, he also played a character with the same name in 1935’s The Dawn Rider, although the films are not directly connected.

Significantly, Christian Slater later revived The Dawn Rider in a 2012 remake, sharing the screen with well-known actors Jill Hennessy and Donald Sutherland.