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John Wayne Had a Hug During His Final Public Appearance That He Wouldn’t Have Missed for Anything.. Actor Sammy Davis Jr. gave Wayne a hug at the 1979 Academy Awards that would go down in the history books. The legendary Western star made his final public appearance there, which members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had the opportunity to experience.. According to Michael Munn’s book, John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, was noticeably frail due to his health falling into a rapid decline. Wayne went to the press room after making the announcement, which is where the hug took place, but Davis Jr. initially thought he made a mistake.. Oscar-nominated Ava Garnder explained, “Sammy felt really bad because he’d given Duke a really tight hug, not knowing that Duke was in such terrible pain.” However, it was a hug that Wayne wouldn’t have missed for anything in the world from a dear old friend.. After the night Davis Jr. gave Wayne a hug, the Western actor didn’t live for much longer. He died only two months later from stomach cancer on June 11, 1979.. Hollywood and moviegoing audiences mourned the loss of one of its greatest stars. However, the actor earned one of the most prestigious awards he could have ever dreamed of – the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest honor any civilian could achieve...