Picture this: John Wayne, the iconic Hollywood legend, wasn’t just a cowboy on the big screen—he was one in real life too. If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to grow up with the Duke as a dad, his kids have some stories to share. His son, Patrick Wayne, revealed in an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly that his dad had a knack for doing things his own way. “If we had a kit, he would just take parts out and start putting it together,” Patrick said. “He wouldn’t look at the directions, and invariably there would be four or five pieces unused by the time he was done.” It’s like he had his own version of IKEA instructions, but without the frustration.
From the Screen to the Family Table
Now, when it came to other tasks, John Wayne wasn’t just winging it. He knew his stuff and wasn’t afraid to share his wisdom with his seven children. Whether it was teaching them how to handle a horse or fixing a fence, the Duke had a wealth of knowledge that he passed down. Some of those handy tips have been compiled into a new book, The Official John Wayne Handy Book for Men, written by James Ellis. This book is like a treasure chest of advice that any man would be lucky to have.

John Wayne’s Wild Side: Adventures with His Kids
But let’s not forget, the Duke wasn’t just about teaching practical skills. He was also a dad who loved to have fun. His daughter, Marisa, has fond memories of their adventures in the great outdoors. “We would go fishing and hiking all day, and he taught me how to bait the hook and gut and clean the fish,” she recalled to Closer. Marisa, now in her 50s, reminisces about those days, saying, “I can’t say I could do it today, but I really got into it as a little girl.” These moments weren’t just about fishing—they were about creating memories and bonding with her father.
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And it wasn’t all about roughing it in the wilderness. John Wayne had a softer side too. “He taught me how to play chess, backgammon, gin rummy, and poker,” Marisa remembered. In a world without video games or smartphones, they found joy in the simple pleasures of life. “Back then there weren’t video games or cell phones and we had no TV, but we had a lot of fun playing games,” she said. It’s like they were living in a different era, where quality time meant sitting around a table and having a good laugh.



