“I know he is beloved and while I am sure he was a really good guy, as long as you weren’t married to him, his acting skills were awful.”
In many films, yes. He was capable of better, but rarely asked to do so. “The Cowboys” (http://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Deluxe-John-Wayne/dp/B000O599WQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305318826&sr=8-1 $5.49 including shipping) is, IMHO, and example of good acting by the Duke.
Can I ask in what films he was awful? Just for the record.