Nevada Army veteran who inspired RAMBO dies aged 87
The Nevada Army veteran who reportedly inspired Sylvester Stallone's Rambo film franchise has died at age 87.
James 'Bo' Gritz, a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran who is cited as the inspiration for John Rambo, died on Friday, KTNV reported.
'Bo just peacefully passed. His comrades welcoming him "what took you so long colonel?" He's looking into the eyes of our Savior,' his wife, Judy, wrote on Facebook.
Born in 1939 in Oklahoma, Gritz served as an Army Special Forces officer, known as the Green Berets, and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He ran as a populist candidate for president during the 1992 election, the same year he also gained notoriety for his involvement in the Ruby Ridge standoff.
The infamous Ruby Ridge standoff was an 11-day armed siege in Northern Idaho between federal agents and self-proclaimed white separatist Randy Weaver.
Gritz allegedly talked Weaver into surrendering after his wife and son were killed during the standoff, according to the local news station.
In 2020, Gritz reflected on his involvement in the standoff and told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he was still willing to use his expertise to defend the constitutional rights of US citizens.
James 'Bo' Gritz, a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran who is cited as the inspiration for John Rambo , died on Friday
He ran as a populist candidate for president during the 1992 election , the same year he also gained notoriety for his involvement in the Ruby Ridge standoff
'When people, American citizens, get into trouble, I’ve been wanting to hold up my hand,' he said.
'And I will put myself in the face of danger when it comes to American citizens who don’t have my experience.'
Later in life, Gritz became known for sharing his anti-government and survivalist views on the Freedom Call radio program on the American Voice Radio Network.
The Southern Poverty Law Center linked Gritz to the Christian Identity movement, which the FBI has defined as an ideology that combines religious concepts with elements of racism.
Gritz denied any allegations of racism throughout his life, KTN reported.
According to his wife's Facebook posts, Gritz suffered from health struggles, including a cancer diagnosis, in the months before his death.
'I know Bo does not want to live his remaining life with a tracheostomy and to be on a respirator the rest of his life,' Judy wrote on Tuesday.
'Bo has told me several times, he has lived in Sandy Valley for over 45 years, he wants to die in Sandy Valley, and he wants to be buried in Sandy Valley.'
Later in life, Gritz became known for sharing his anti-government and survivalist views on the Freedom Call radio program on the American Voice Radio Network
Gritz reportedly inspired Sylvester Stallone's Rambo film franchise
Gritz is said to have inspired Stallone's portrayal of Rambo. The first film in the franchise, First Blood, was released in 1982 and was a huge commercial success despite ambivalent critical reviews.
That success led to four sequels with the Vietnam War veteran, Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), Rambo (2008) and Rambo: Last Blood (2019).
A new film for the franchise is in the works, with Noah Centineo set to portray the iconic musclebound soldier during the Vietnam war.
