When you think of the word “pilgrim” you either think of the settlers on the Mayflower, or the unforgettable voice of classic Hollywood action hero and movie star John Wayne. Whether it’s his Texan drawl, his deep voice, or his slow and even cadence, the actor’s easily identifiable sound was matched only by his cool and collected cowboy swagger. But in the history of film, particularly classic Western and adventure films of the 1940s through the 1970s, there are few whose voice alone could either intimidate or comfort, frighten or put at ease, like the legendary Wayne.

Star of some of the most famous cowboy and war movies ever made, including “The Searchers,” “Stagecoach,” “The Longest Day,” and “The Green Berets,” Wayne embodied Hollywood masculinity: strong, capable, steely-eyed, and tough as nails. But try as hard as one might, no matter how tall or gruff, no matter what kind of garb one dressed in to mimic the great John Wayne, there was one thing everyone else lacked, that they could ever match — his undeniable and identifiable voice. Many have tried to imitate it, whether as homage or for laughs, but nobody has ever sounded like the Duke.