Angie Dickinson, 91, Reveals What Working With John Wayne Was Really Like – ‘He Was So Generous’

It’s been 64 years since the Hollywood icon Angie Dickinson got her big break starring in the 1959 Howard Hawkes-directed classic Rio Bravo, but working with the legendary star John Wayne on it is an experience that she’s never forgotten. In a new interview, Dickinson is recalling what working with The Duke himself was really like.

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Dickinson Praises Wayne 

“He was so generous. He would just lean on that rifle and he never, ever showed any impatience,” she told the Associated Press.

“For all the scenes, especially the big one where I cry at the end for him, he just was as helpful as he could be by just being patient,” she added.

Wayne sadly passed away back in 1979 at the age of 72, 20 years after Rio Bravo was released. Dickinson is kicking off the TCM Classic Film Festival today with a screening of Rio Bravo, which made her a household name.

“I could watch it once a week,” Dickinson said. “It’s a delicious movie.”

“I could talk about Rio Bravo forever, but that’s not the problem,” she added. “The problem is getting all done up and finding a nice outfit for it. That’s not easy.”

Despite the success of Rio Bravo, Dickinson’s life did not change overnight.

“It came out rather quietly. Not much hoopla about it,” she explained. “I remember one of my closest friends, she was kind of a mentor and we played poker every Saturday night. She said, ‘I saw your film.’ That was it. I think she was not impressed. It’s like ‘thanks a lot.’ But it worked out OK. Because of television it lives on.”

Related: Sophia Loren Remembers What It Was Like To Work With John Wayne

Dickinson Proud Of ‘Police Woman’

Other than Rio Bravo, Dickinson is perhaps best remembered for playing the undercover cop Sgt. Pepper Anderson on the television show “Police Woman” from 1974-1978. As she looks back, Dickinson is proud that her show helped people to respect female members of law enforcement.

“I like the idea that I might have been an influence,” Dickinson told Fox News. “But the truth is, I was not eager to sign on to a series. … Your life changes when you’re the star of a series. It’s constant. It’s really hard.”

“But I signed the contract, so it didn’t matter if I found it inspiring or not,” she added. “I just had to do it. But the way it was presented to me was, ‘Don’t you want to be a role model?’ So, I’m glad that it may have affected the country.”

Dickinson went on to explain that when she signed on for the series in 1974, “it was still unique to see a woman in uniform.”

Related: Feminists Will Be Furious Watching Foster Brooks Roast Angie Dickinson

Dickinson ‘Never Felt The Need For Feminism’

Though her television show was groundbreaking, Dickinson “never felt the need for feminism.”

“I never felt competition with men, which I really believed started the movement,” she previously told AARP. “When I was up for a role, I didn’t compete with men; it was a role for a woman.”

Dickinson’s role on “Police Woman” paid off for her in a big way, as it earned her three Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe Award.

Dickinson retired from acting over a decade ago, but she hasn’t completely closed the door to a Hollywood comeback.

“I couldn’t do those long hours, you know?” she said. “Now watch me take a movie next week.”

Dickinson is a true living legend, and it’s amazing to hear her talk about things like working with Wayne. If you want to see her and Wayne in action together, be sure to check out Rio Bravo. It’s a cinematic experience that you won’t soon forget!