John Wayne and Sammy Davis Jr

 "When there was finally a role calling for a black cowboy, John Wayne gave me the hat he’d worn in ‘Stagecoach’ for luck in playing it. He said, 'I didn’t let my kids touch this Stetson. It’s very dear to me. But I guess you’ll be able to find a home for it.' I’m proud to have had his friendship." ​​​​​​​​—Sammy Davis Jr.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Duke and Sammy had a long, lasting friendship and often reached out and extended a hand when the other needed it. One such instance was when Sammy Davis Jr. found himself being heckled on stage in Canada.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​

Duke and his son, Patrick Wayne, were in Detroit, Michigan as the Duke was on a personal tour for the film Hatari! (1962). Sammy was putting on a concert less than an hour away in Windsor, Ontario and the two wanted to go see him. When they arrived through the back entrance, they heard Sammy being heckled on stage and the air getting thick with tension across the auditorium. Without a second thought, Duke marched up on stage and threw his arm around his friend to show him support and elicit support from the audience. To no surprise, it worked. The uncomfortable moment passed and Sammy put on an amazing concert.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​

Recalling the moment, Patrick Wayne remembered how swift his father was to react to his friend’s distress. How that big bear hug he gave Sammy Davis Jr. melted away any tension, racial or otherwise, across the whole room. It wasn’t about being someone who simply talked a good game. It was about someone who took action and stood up for someone else in need. That’s who John Wayne was.