John Wayne's bizarre autopsy rumors debunked with real cause of death revealed

John Wayne, the legendary cowboy actor , passed away almost 45 years ago after battling stomach cancer for a brief five months.

His untimely death sent shockwaves through his fan base , leading some to concoct eccentric theories pertaining to the cause of his death .

Certain reports hinted that John's cancer was tied to his carnivorous diet, with particularly unsettling rumors hinting at an autopsy , revealing around 18 kilograms of impacted fecal matter within the actor's body, most likely brought on by a meaty diet.

• Ireland's oldest man secret to long life as he prepares to turn 108

• Barron Trump described in three words by people who went to dinner with him

In this analysis, we aim to break down every bit of the various theories surrounding The Duke's passing.

Around 18 kilograms of faecal matter

In the early days of online forums around 1999, gossip began swirling about several kilograms of impacted feces being discovered in John's system. Fact-checking website Snopes cites one user who commented: "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.", reports the Mirror .

"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 propagated the same theory in an article featured in USA Today. Yet, no actual evidence has surfaced to back up these claims.

Radiation exposure

It's believed that smoking played a significant role in John's cancer diagnosis. As reported by The New York Times, the Duke was known to smoke up to five packs of cigarettes a day, totalling 100 cigarettes.

He underwent treatment for lung cancer in 1964, which resulted in the removal of most of his left lung.

Another theory, albeit unproven, suggests that the actor's increased risk of cancer could be attributed to radiation exposure. John starred in the 1954 film 'The Conqueror', shot in the Utah desert.

Coincidentally, during this period, the United States Atomic Energy Commission was conducting over 100 nuclear bomb tests as part of the Manhattan Project, turning large swathes of the desert into a hazardous radioactive fallout zone.

A year after John's passing, People magazine published a report highlighting the unusually high cancer rates among the cast and crew of 'The Conqueror'. By 1980, out of 220 people, 91 had been diagnosed with cancer and 46 had passed away.

As for the stomach removal, John Wayne did indeed have his stomach removed, but not posthumously. In January 1979, just months before his death, surgeons performed a nine-hour operation to remove the actor's stomach after discovering a malignancy during a routine gall bladder procedure.

• Data reveals most common dog illnesses across US states

At the time, Bernard Strohm, the hospital administrator, issued a statement: "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 continued: "There are many many people in this world without stomachs who indeed function very well."

Excessive drinking

John was notorious for his excessive drinking habits. In his 2001 book 'Cut to the Chase', Sam O'Steen mentioned that film directors had to schedule scenes with John before noon as he would turn into a "mean drunk" following an afternoon of drinking.

The actor's penchant for alcohol was also highlighted by his son, Ethan. Recalling their times sailing on a yacht, Ethan recounted how his father would chip off pieces from an iceberg for his drink.

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

For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .