Who’s Still Alive From ‘True Grit’?

TRUE GRIT, from left: Kim Darby, John Wayne, 1969 — Everett Collection

It’s been more than 50 years since True Grit galloped onto the big screen and gave us one of the most iconic Westerns of all time. The 1969 film, based on the novel by Charles Portis, not only helped shape the genre but also delivered John Wayne his long-awaited Oscar win for his role as Rooster Cogburn. In honor of the film — which just celebrated its 56th anniversary this month — let’s take a look at who’s still alive from True Grit, and remember those we’ve lost.

Kim Darby (77)

Mattie Ross

Everett Collection; Angela Weiss/Getty Images

Darby was just 21 when she played the sharp-tongued, determined Mattie Ross, a performance that helped anchor the film. Now 77, Darby lives a quieter life out of the spotlight, but she’s far from forgotten. After True Grit, she went on to appear in Norwood, The Grissom Gang and The Strawberry Statement. She had a notable turn in the 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, which earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination.

Her later work included quirky ’80s comedies like Better Off Dead and Teen Wolf Too — plus we can’t forget that she played Laurie Strode’s adoptive mother in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. In recent years, Darby has stepped away from the camera, with her last film credit being The Evil Within, released in 2017 but filmed years earlier.

Robert Duvall (94)

Ned Pepper

Everett Collection; Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Duvall, who played the outlaw Ned Pepper, is still going strong at 94 and remains one of the most respected actors of his generation. While True Grit gave him a solid villainous role, it was just the beginning. In the years that followed, he appeared in M*A*S*H, The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, to name a few. Duvall has been nominated for seven Oscars and won Best Actor for Tender Mercies in 1984. He also earned praise for his work in Lonesome Dove, The Apostle and The Judge. His most recent appearance was in the 2022 gothic thriller The Pale Blue Eye.

In Memoriam

TRUE GRIT, John Wayne, Kim Darby, glen Campbell, 1969

Everett Collection

John Wayne, the larger-than-life figure who finally won an Oscar for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn, passed away on June 11, 1979, at age 72. The cause was stomach cancer, which he had been battling for several years. Glen Campbell died on August 8, 2017, at age 81 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Dennis Hopper died on May 29, 2010, from prostate cancer at age 74. Jeremy Slate, who played another member of the Pepper gang, passed away on November 19, 2006, at age 80 from complications following surgery for esophageal cancer.

True Grit Trivia: Facts About the 1969 John Wayne Western

The film nabbed Wayne his one and only Oscar.

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