Tommy Lee Jones Reveals the Only Actor He Rates Flawless
Tommy Lee Jones opens up about his deep respect for John Wayne, sharing why he rates the Western legend’s work so highly—even as Wayne’s off-screen views remain divisive.
Tommy Lee Jones has always cut a formidable figure, both on and off the screen. Known for his no-nonsense approach and a reputation for not suffering fools, he’s the sort of bloke you’d think twice about crossing. His performances are never half-baked; if Jones is in a film, you can bet he’s giving it everything he’s got. That intensity and commitment have made him a standout in roles that demand authority and grit.
With a career spanning classics like No Country for Old Men, JFK, Men in Black, and The Fugitive, Jones has become synonymous with tough, masculine characters. So it’s hardly a shock that his acting hero is someone who practically defined the archetype. When asked about his favourite films and actors, Jones didn’t hesitate to name John Wayne—the larger-than-life American icon who dominated the golden era of Westerns.
John Wayne’s Lasting Impact
Joan Didion once wrote, “When John Wayne rode through my childhood, and very probably through yours, he determined forever the shape of certain of our dreams.” For Jones, that rings true. Growing up watching ‘The Duke’ swagger across the screen, he absorbed the image of a man who embodied old-school values and a certain brand of rugged individualism. These days, though, Wayne’s legacy is a bit more complicated. Many of his films are now seen as problematic, especially in their portrayals of masculinity and race.
Wayne’s off-screen persona was even more controversial. In a notorious 1971 Playboy interview, he openly supported white supremacy and made a string of offensive remarks, including calling Midnight Cowboy “a story about two f*gs” and suggesting Black people needed to be “educated to a point of responsibility.” It’s impossible to ignore what Wayne represented, no matter how much you admire his work.
Why Jones Still Rates ‘The Duke’
Despite all that, Jones remains a massive fan. He singled out the 1947 Western Angel and the Badman as a standout, saying,
“I love the honesty of John Wayne’s work. It’s about water. It’s about violence. It’s about peace. It’s about how these things might interface. I think it’s the most sophisticated film ‘The Duke’ ever made, and I like everything ‘The Duke’ ever made.”
Wayne’s filmography is packed with classics—The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Quiet Man, Stagecoach, True Grit. His collaborations with John Ford set the standard for the genre, and his presence on screen was impossible to ignore. Even as the Western evolved into something grittier and more subversive, Wayne’s influence lingered.
Shared Legacy in the Western Genre
It’s easy to see why Jones feels such a connection. He’s starred in his fair share of Westerns, and there’s a clear through-line from Wayne’s era to his own. For Jones, Wayne’s work stands apart—not just for its style, but for its substance. Even if Wayne’s personal views were, to put it mildly, not exactly a great look, his impact on film is undeniable.