Anita La Cava Swift is the oldest grandchild of American icon, actor John Wayne. She is the daughter of Maria Antonia “Toni” Wayne La Cava, his oldest daughter from his first marriage to Josephine Saenz Wayne.

Anita has traveled the country raising money for the John Wayne Cancer Institute (renamed January 2021 to Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute) and the John Wayne Cancer Foundation following the wishes of her grandfather who asked his family to use his image and likeness to find a cure for cancer. For eight years (2012-2020), she served as the President of the John Wayne Cancer Institute and continues to volunteer with them and her grandfather’s Foundation. Since 2017, Anita has served as a board member of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Anita was able to be on the set of many of her grandfather’s films and even had a bit part in the movie The Alamo where at the age of two, she appeared seated on her mother’s lap as the women and children were leaving the Alamo. She has carried on in her grandfather’s tradition of supporting the military and was made an honorary Green Beret.

Anita attended California State University at Northridge where she received a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Political Science.

Anita and her husband of 44 years, Timothy Swift, have four grown children.