30 years after his death, John Wayne is still appearing in movies. The Hollywood icon’s final film, a never-before-released independent titled “Thunder Riders of the Golden West,” is about to hit DVD. The sci-fi western was produced in 1984 and features footage of Wayne that was shot before the actor died of stomach cancer in 1979, according to an article in a local Texas newspaper. Whether this footage was filmed specifically for “Thunder Riders” is unclear.

“Thunder Riders” was produced by Dave Burleson, a bit-part actor and stuntman who was apparently good friends with Wayne. He clarified to the Kerrville Daily News that “it’s not the last movie he acted in, but it’s the last performance to be released.” So that would mean Wayne’s role in this film was performed many years before he died, since the last movie he acted in was the 1976 western “The Shootist.” Read more...