John Wayne and Elvis Presley were two of the biggest American icons of their generation, but surprisingly, they never made a movie together. Behind the scenes, however, their paths crossed several times—and Elvis reportedly had enormous admiration for the man millions called “Duke.”

According to people close to Elvis, Presley had grown up watching Wayne’s films and viewed him almost like a childhood hero. When they finally met, Elvis reportedly shook Wayne’s hand and jokingly thanked him for “winning World War II,” a reference to all the heroic war movies Wayne had made.

The two came surprisingly close to sharing the screen. Elvis was considered for the role of La Boeuf opposite Wayne in True Grit, although Glen Campbell ultimately received the part. Wayne went on to win his only competitive Best Actor Oscar for the film.

Their story also has a bittersweet ending. Elvis died in 1977 at only 42, while Wayne lived until 1979. So despite dramatic stories circulating online about a final hospital request, the documented story is simpler: two American legends met, respected one another, and left behind legacies that fans are still talking about generations later.