The two later got divorced in 1960 after having two children; Rolf and Jenny. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of the tallest leading men of his era. Arness could rest easy knowing that he will forever be associated with the Wild West thanks to the shows lasting rerun success. Moreover, his ethnicity is Mixed(German and Norwegian). Portrait of James Arness (portrays Marshal Matt Dillon). During theBattle of Anzio, he was severely wounded in his right leg. She survived him. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Jamess make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. I want major pictures and I dont care if its not the leading role.. Janets friend, who owned the dress shop and knew Jim, suggested that Janet call him. Esin Gmkl (@l_gumusk) May 23, 2021. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. Jim is Surtees's first child from a previous relationship. Arness yet served as a rifleman during the Infantry Division in the 3rd range within the United States. James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the strong and commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV western series "Gunsmoke," died Friday.. Woody McClain, Brian Blosil, and Tom Rhys are some renowned American actors. He had also received an Alma masters from Beloit College. James Arness: Rumors, Controversy/Scandal. 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They were character study shows, Arness once told the Associated Press. James Arness, famous as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, "Gunsmoke," was born to Rolf Aurness and Ruth Duesler Graves. Extremely private personality, James Arness refused to talk about his life's biggest tragedies. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. But Janet was hesitant at first. His wife passed away due to a drug overdose. Arness died on 3 June 2011 of natural causes at the age of 88. So, basically, the most romantic date ever. Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. There they had food and spoke about their families. Actor. The couple shared two children, a son named Rolf Arness ( (born February 18, 1952) and a daughter named Jenny Arness (born May 23, 1950). After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. Inside the marriage of Janet and her Late Husband James Arness. One was named Craig, a photographer, while the other, Jenny, was an actress and they died in 2004 and 1975 respectively. Despite the glamorous life behind the scenes, James had a pretty complicated life leading to her divorce, up until his marriage to his second wife, who became his life-long partner until the very end. He had one sibling, Peter Aurness, who would later become known as Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. He went to John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. His performance as a quiet man with an amazing sense of justicewas appreciated by millions of fans. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet with a laugh. Born James King Aurness to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler, James lived a pretty wealthy life being from Norweigan and of German descent. James Arness, who burnished the legend of America's epic West as Marshal Matt Dillon, the laconic peacemaker of Dodge City on "Gunsmoke," one of the longest-running dramatic series in. Full NameJames King Aurness Net Worth$8 Million Date of Birth26 May, 1923 NicknameJames Marital Status Married BirthplaceMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. d.getElementById("contentad428986").appendChild(s); She died in 1977 from a drug overdose, following her daughter's death two years prior on the same cause. Besides, James had married twice in his life. Heres what we do know. The couple got married in 1978 and remained together until the death of the actor in 2011. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . James Arness played law-abiding Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke (CBS, 1955-1975), the longest-running drama in television history, and became one of the most well-known actors of the 1950s through the 1970s. And here comes this huge man through the door. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). It was reported James passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles. James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 - June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. When the Gunsmoke offer came in, he said, I wouldnt be able to do it, but I have a young man here under contract who I think would maybe fit the bill. So he very graciously offered to introduce the first episode. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. He was a one-of-a-kind guy. The next day he called her and asked if she wanted to go to Mammoth Lakes, and she said yes. Gunsmoke actor James Arness died on 3rd June 2011, leaving behind a letter he wanted to be released after his death. Arness was 88 years old. From 1955 through 1975, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the Western drama Gunsmoke. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Since this was so important to Arness, he decided to leave a note for his longstanding Gunsmoke followers to read after his passing, which no doubt deepened their already profound admiration for him. I had a wonderful life and was blessed with so many loving people and great friends. She loves to volunteer and can often be found working with the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation. His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California was buried there. In an interview with the Santa Clarita Signal, Arness said his co-stars never stood on anything to make them look taller in shots they shared with him on Gunsmoke. Alden's wife worked with Janet at the time in a dress shop. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". World War II soldier turned actor James Arness had trouble finding meaty roles due to his height; his greatest was as the title monster in The Thing from Another World before the show premiered (1951). . Arness and Surtees were married from 1978 to up until his death in 2011. James had a rich background as he was of Norwegian, German, and English descent. Many delicious foods and drinks were provided, including cheese, crackers, bread, wine, and much more. | Source: Getty Images. Arness adopted Chapman's son Craig, who died in 2004. The two met during the last season of Gunsmoke. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. He also became the adoptive father to Virginia's son Craig. James had a stint in performing onstage when he was young, but later on, he expressed little interest in pursuing a career out of it and heeded the call of the seas instead. Arness initially had difficulty juggling a booming career in entertainment with his home life, which resulted in some issues. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. She wasnt sure how she felt about meeting, and possibly dating, a big-time Hollywood star. All Rights Reserved. The two were inseparable after that and married a few years later. However, he had a lifelong disability from an injury to his right leg sustained in the Battle of Anzio. Luckily, Janet didnt hold a grudge and the two went on a second date. Before Janet, James was married to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until 1963; the couple had three children, Rolf, Craig, and Jenny Lee, who died of suicide in 1975. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. As a result, he played a role in getting Arness to accept the role of Matt on Gunsmoke, the show that would prove to be the pinnacle of his career. "We were introduced to each other, we sat down, and Jim was so friendly he was just so down-to-earth, and my nervousness went away. He went on to star in a few more Western-themed programs after Dodge City was canceled, but he eventually made his way back to the role of Dillon in a series of television movies released in the early 90s. James Arness Had Two Relationships Afterward Arness later found love in Thordis Brand. Arness wrote a letter to his fans that he asked Janet to post on his website after his passing. All Rights Reserved. They tied the knot in 1978 and lived in Brentwood, Los Angeles. James Arness was best known for starring Marshal Matt Dillon for twenty years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. At some point, Alden's wife urged her to join them for dinner since James would also be there. s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. Keeping this in mind, the American actor James Arness build up his profession in acting, despite having a dream to be a naval fighter pilot. James Arness net worth: James Arness was an American actor who had a net worth of $8 million. However, Arness was eventually pulled back to Gunsmoke, starring in five made-for-TV movies between 1987 and 1993. Luckily, she gave him the benefit of the doubt and went on a second date (three months later) and the two were married for 33 years. He and his brother participated in the Second World War, but he didn't come out of it unscathed. But the Gunsmoke starmarried the next woman he met after his split from Brand. He even worked as a radio announcer before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. His net worth was estimated to be $8 million. As a young child, most of his life, James usually found it hard in his . James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBS's most important actor overall. James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 - June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke.Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made-for-television Gunsmoke films . The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. James Arness and his wife went on the most romantic first date ever. He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. In reality, Wayne suggested Arness for the part and even introduced the first episode of Gunsmoke. James met his second wife, Janet Surtees, thanks to his makeup artist Glen Alden, who had a wife that managed a dress shop where she worked. However, legendary Western actor John Wayne thought he had star potential. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. James Arness was first married in 1948 to Virginia Chapman. He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. Regarding James Arness personal life, well, the actor has been married twice. He died on 3rd June 2011 of natural causes. His real issue though was his height. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. But Arness usually stated that his height was 6 feet 6 inches in the regular newspaper and TV interviews. James flew Janet back later that day. On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. Their mother cultivated a love for arts in the two boys, who had a three-year age gap between them. Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. They say its not a matter in what field you are engaged, if you are working hard with equal dedication, you will definitely gain both name and fame. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. Her mother Virginia died of a drug overdose in 1977. His fathers name is Rolf Virkler Aurness who was from Norway. They were last married in 1978 to Janet Surtees. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBSs most important actor overall. in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. Jim Arness (1971), (Bettmann/contributor/getty images), James Arness, Janet (1995), (Getty Images/Staff), James Arness, Janet (2001), (David Keeler/Getty Images). A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. In addition, he was married to his wife,Daphne, and had two children, Holly and Brian. Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at his Brentwood home from natural causes. He was an infantryman and was wounded in the battle of Anzio, Italy, but his brother was posted to the Army Air Force which later became a separate branch of the U.S. military. He was also listed as the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 at 1751 Vine Street. In the 1940s, he married Dorothy Gillooly (19262012), who had served in the Women's Army Corps. James Arness James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over the television landscape for two decades as righteous Dodge City lawman Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke," died Friday. The $8 million net worth of American actor James Arness. Luckily, she gave him the benefit of the doubt and went on a second date (three months later) and the two were married for 33 years. (AP Photo/Scott Harms) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over . Of course, she was charmed by his politeness and friendliness, so they got to talking. How many times has James Arness been married? Their parents were businessmen and journalists. Gunsmoke: James Arness Wife Opens Up About Marriage to Western Icon in 2017 Interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZlby3ryXCE, GUNSMOKE I married James Arness with Janet Arness A WORD ON WESTERNS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZlby3ryXCE). I was under contract to Dukes company for two years before Gunsmoke came along, Arness told the Signal in 2006. He amassed most of this through his long-standing Hollywood career. After their first meeting, Janet did not call James until after three months. Then, what happened? Janets father and brother were both pilots. So, Janet went to dinner simply so she could tell her son that she met James Arness. So I thought, Well, okay, Ill meet Jim and tell my son I met him,' said Janet. In 1978, Arness wed Janet Surtees for the second time. To know all the details about James Arnesss life including his bio, wiki, net worth, salary, and personal life, read this article till the end. He was born on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. He had a son, Rolf, and daughter, Jenny, with Chapman. Arness made one final stab at a weekly series with "McClain's Law" (NBC, 1981-82) which cast him as a retired cop who returns to the force to show a new group of officers the right way to deal with . His autobiography titledJames Arness: An Autobiographywas released in September of 2001. He initially worked as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler as a high school student. A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet. James had a stint in performing onstage when he was young, but later on, he expressed little interest in pursuing a career out of it and heeded the call of the seas instead. That didn't happen until after three months, and she had been reluctant to call him because, as she told Alden's wife, he probably had a lot of ladies calling him. In 1948 he married Virginia Chapman and adopted her child from Craig's previous marriage. + qs; Having lived a fulfilling life as an actor, James Arness died on the 3rd day of June 2011. Arness achieved cult status thanks to his portrayal of Zeb Macahan in the western series titledHow the West Was Won. Jeremiah Green Cause of Death: Jeremiah Green left Modest Mouse when? Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. Patty Duke Cause Of Death? Janet revealed that he was very polite and friendly. The two spent the entire night talking and at the end of the night, James asked Janet for her phone number. This is not the case. 20 Things You Didnt Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Gunsmoke: James Arness Called Wife Best Part of My Life. Arness was married to Janet Surtees from 1978 until his death although they did separate for a short time but got back together. [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. Actor James Arness (right) with his brother, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images. James Arness was married to Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. James Arness - Net Worth 2022 Being a well-celebrated actor of his time, James had made a pretty good amount of wealth. Likely, they were also blessed with a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. So, even after 33 years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the Hollywood actors wife. James Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1923 . But the Gunsmoke star married the next woman he met after his split from Brand. Chapman. They had been together for six years. In the early 1960s, John Wayne took an interest in Arness and was instrumental in getting him cast in Gunsmoke, the show that would ultimately define his career for the next two decades. His first marriage was to Virginia Chapman; an actress. From 1976 to 1979, Arness played on television in the role of Zeb Macahan in the series How the West Was Won. There was a high rumor about a long-term relationship between James Arness and actress, Thordis Brandt, but they never get married. However, James and Janet never had any children together. Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. Thordis Brandt, who was also an actress, was the actors longtime lover. Most recently they were married to Janet Surtees in 1978. I had been in about four pictures for his company with him. To make up for the lost role, an actor . CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. She was 60. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978). Gunsmoke: Meet Marshal Matt Dillon Actor James Arness Second Wife Janet Surtees. Image date May 4, 1957.| Source: Getty Images. He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Rolf and Jimmy; and six grandchildren. Arness was passionate about Gunsmoke, but he put his children ahead of his shooting schedule. They also shared an adopted a son who Virginia Chapman had from another marriage. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet laughing. Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. Arness escorted her somewhere alone for lunch, clearly knowing exactly where he was heading. His muscular physique and charming and authoritative personality made him one of Hollywood's biggest Western drama stars at the time. Previously, Arness worked as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler loading and unloading railway boxcars on Minneapolis Burlington freight yards, and logging in Pierce, Idaho. Injury to his portrayal of Zeb Macahan in the 3rd range within United! 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