Wayne's producer son dies in US

John Wayne’s eldest son Michael Wayne, who helped produce several of his father’s films, has died aged 68.

He died of heart failure at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Centre, Burbank, California, following complications from lupus, an immune system disease, his publicist Warren Cowan said.

He was the head of Wayne Enterprises, which owns many of his father’s films.

Distributing the movies and merchandising his father’s image occupied much of Wayne’s time, along with property and other investments.

He said in 1991 that there were both advantages and drawbacks of having such a famous father, but “the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. I produced McClintock! when I was 25 years old. I don’t think if I wasn’t John Wayne’s son, I would have had that opportunity.”

“It wasn’t all smooth, working with my father – there were a lot of bumps along the way, both for him and me,” he said. “But I wish he were still around so we could get in arguments.”

Among the films Michael Wayne helped produce were Brannigan, The Green Berets and The Train Robbers.

John Wayne died of lung cancer in 1979.