James Arness was a popular American actor who was best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon in the TV series Gunsmoke for 20 years. He was a three-time Primetime Emmy nominee. On June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, Arness died of natural causes at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles, California.

Behind the Scenes with James Arness

James Arness, whose real name was James King Airness, was born on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness, and mother, Ruth Duesler, had him as the eldest son. With his brother Peter Graves, he grew up in his hometown.

According to IMDb, Arness stood 6′ 7″ tall and weighed 235 pounds, according to Time magazine (March 30, 1959). He was regarded as Hollywood’s tallest leading man during his time. James graduated from Minneapolis Washburn High School with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Beloit College awarded him his Alma Master’s degree.

Arness’s Career Highlights As A Militant

Despite the fact that his parents were businesspeople, he had little interest in the field. Arness had a dream of becoming a naval fighter pilot. However, his poor vision and eyesight problems were the biggest roadblock in his way.

Arness did, however, serve as a rifleman in the United States’ Infantry Division’s 3rd range. He also landed on Anzio Beachhead on January 22, 1944, as stated in James Arness’ Autobiography.

During that time, he was assigned to the second platoon as a rifleman. Because of his short stature, Arness was also sent to General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa, by the US Army at the time, where he was the first to be offered a landing craft for determining the water’s complexity. He served in the military as a Corporal from 1943 to 1945.

James Arness is a well-known actor

He began his career in the entertainment industry as a radio announcer at Minneapolis station WLOL in 1945, after serving in the military. In 1947, James Arness made his film debut with The Farmer’s Daughter. He went on to star in films and television shows such as Gunsmoke, Them!, The Thing From Another World, and The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory, to name a few.

On Gunsmoke, his most memorable character is undoubtedly US Marshal Matt Dillon. He played the character for 20 years and cemented his place in the hearts of every American who grew up watching television. He had around 48 acting credits before his death, making him one of Hollywood’s more experienced actors.

At the time of his death, James Arness was worth $8 million

James Arness had an estimated net worth of $8 million at the time of his death. His fortune came from his illustrious career as an actor and former military man. He did, in fact, make a lot of money from his role in the TV show Gunsmoke. According to one source, he was paid around $20,000 per episode. According to the same website, The Thing From Another World star made only $1,200 per episode in the beginning.

He also appeared in The Farmer’s Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and other films. In 1960, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For his dedication and hard work, Arness received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Wife and children’s personal lives

Arness married twice, and both of his wives, Virginia Chapman and Janet Surtees were actresses. In 1948, he married Virginia Chapman, whom he divorced in 1960. In 1978, he married Janet Surtees with the latter of the two. He had four children with his wife: Rolf Aurness, Craig Aurness, Jim Aurness, and Jenny Lee. Jenny Lee Arness, who was also an actress, tragically committed suicide on May 12, 1975. He is also the proud grandfather of six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

On the other hand, there was a long-running rumor that James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt were dating, but they never confirmed their relationship in public.

What Year Did James Arness Pass Away?

At the age of 88, James Arness died of natural causes on June 3, 2011. He was survived by his wife Janet Surtees at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, at the time of his death. His funeral and burial took place at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.