James Arness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James "Marshal Dillon" Arness
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| Born |
James King Aurness
May 26, 1923 Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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| Died | June 3, 2011 (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, USA
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| Cause of death | Natural causes |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Minneapolis Washburn High School Minneapolis West High School |
| Alma mater | Beloit College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1947–94 |
| Home town | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Television | Gunsmoke, How the West Was Won |
| Spouse(s) | Virginia Chapman (m.1948–1960, divorced) Janet Surtees (m.1978–2011, his death) |
| Children | Rolf, Craig (deceased), Jim, Jenny Lee (deceased) |
| Relatives | Peter Graves (brother, deceased) |
James Arness (born May 26, 1923 – died June 3, 2011) was a famous American actor. He is best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the TV show Gunsmoke. James Arness played Marshal Dillon for a very long time, from 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series. He also played the role in five TV movies in the 1980s and 1990s. In Europe, he was also very popular for his role as Zeb Macahan in the Western series How the West Was Won.
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Early Life of James Arness
James Arness was born as James King Aurness in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 26, 1923. He later dropped the "u" from his last name when he became an actor. His father's family was from Norway, and his mother's family was from Germany. James and his family were Methodist. His younger brother, Peter Graves, also became a well-known actor. Peter used his mother's family name, "Graves," as his stage name.
James Arness went to John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. During his school years, he worked as a delivery person for a jewelry company. He also helped load and unload railway cars and worked in logging in Pierce, Idaho. Even though he said he was "a poor student" and missed many classes, he finished high school in June 1942.
Military Service in World War II
James Arness wanted to be a pilot in the Navy, but his eyesight was not perfect. However, it was his height that stopped him. He was 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall, and pilots could not be taller than 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m).
He was then chosen to join the U.S. Army in March 1943. As a rifleman, he landed on Anzio Beachhead in Italy on January 22, 1944. He was part of the 3rd Infantry Division. Because he was so tall, James was the first person ordered off his landing craft to check how deep the water was. The water came up to his waist.
During the Battle of Anzio, James Arness was badly hurt in his right leg. He was sent to a hospital in Iowa to get treatment. After several operations, he was honorably discharged from the Army in January 1945. His leg injury continued to bother him for the rest of his life. Later, he often felt pain in his leg, especially when he rode horses for Gunsmoke.
His military awards include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Acting Career and Famous Roles
After leaving the Army, James Arness went to Beloit College in Wisconsin. He started his career in 1945 as a radio announcer at station WLOL in Minneapolis.
Soon, he moved to Hollywood and began acting in movies. His first movie was The Farmer's Daughter in 1947. In this movie, he played Peter Holstrom, the brother of Loretta Young's character. He was credited as "Arness" in the film.
While he is most famous for Westerns, James Arness also appeared in two science fiction films. He played the main creature in The Thing from Another World and was also in Them!. He was good friends with famous actor John Wayne. They acted together in several movies like Big Jim McLain and Hondo. James Arness also starred in Gun the Man Down for John Wayne's movie company.
Gunsmoke made James Arness and his co-stars very famous around the world. The show ran for 20 years, from 1955 to 1975. It became the longest-running drama series in U.S. television history at that time. Gunsmoke was in the top 10 TV shows for 13 seasons, including four years as the number one show! James Arness, who had naturally blond hair, had to dye it darker for his role as Matt Dillon.
After Gunsmoke ended, James Arness continued to act in Western movies and TV shows. These included How the West Was Won and five more Gunsmoke TV movies between 1987 and 1994. He also played a police officer in a short-lived series called McClain's Law. His role as the mountain man Zeb Macahan in How the West Was Won made him a very popular figure in many European countries.
Personal Life and Interests
James Arness was married two times. He had two sons and one daughter. His son, Rolf Arness, became the World Surfing Champion in 1970. Another son, Craig Arness, started a photography agency and was a photographer for National Geographic.
Even though his character, Matt Dillon, was very serious, James Arness himself loved to laugh. Sometimes, filming on the Gunsmoke set had to stop because he would get uncontrollable giggles. James Arness did not like a lot of public attention and did not allow reporters on the Gunsmoke set. He was known as a shy and sensitive man who enjoyed poetry, sailboat racing, and surfing. Buck Taylor, who played Newly on Gunsmoke, admired James Arness so much that he named his second son Matthew, after Arness's character.
Death
James Arness passed away from natural causes at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on June 3, 2011. He was 88 years old. He is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Awards and Recognition
James Arness received many honors for his work in television.
- He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street.
- In 1981, he was added to the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
- In 2006, James Arness was inducted into the Santa Clarita Walk of Western Stars.
In 1989, for the 50th anniversary of television in the United States, People magazine chose the top 25 television stars of all time. James Arness was ranked number 6. In 1996, TV Guide ranked him number 20 on its list of the 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
He was also nominated for several Emmy Awards for his role in Gunsmoke:
- 1957: Best Actor in a Dramatic Series
- 1958: Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series
- 1959: Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series
Images for kids
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As Matt Dillon in 1969
See also
In Spanish: James Arness para niños
