Rooster Cogburn (character) 1978 TV sequel starred Warren Oates in the featured role. The 2010 film stars Jeff Bridges as Cogburn. John Wayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Cogburn in the 1969 film. On January 24, 2011, Jeff Bridges was nominated for the same award for his portrayal of Cogburn. Reuben Cogburn was born on July 15, 1825. Cogburn was a veteran of the American Civil War who served under Confederate guerrilla leader William Quantrill, where he lost his eye. He was married first to an Illinois woman who left him to return to her first husband
The Frisco Kid Gene Wilder's autobiography, "Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art", the Tommy Lillard role, played by Harrison Ford, was originally planned for John Wayne. John J. Puccio of Movie Metropolis writes that Wayne was "eager to take it on as a comic follow-up to "True Grit" and "Rooster Cogburn". Salary concerns nixed the idea, though, and it's questionable he would have finished the shooting, in any case, as he died shortly before "The Frisco Kid" opened." (Another source says Wayne did not want to make the film due to "vulgarity" in the script.) Wilder said he