Arness' 20-year, prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . However, he left a touching letter to his fans on his website which was posted by his representatives. But the couple gets divorced in 1963, and Arness was granted legal custody of the children. James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. Although he was a famous actor, James liked to keep his personal life under wraps. Her parents married in 1948 and divorced in 1963 after 15 years of marriage. The two met during the last season of 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 in the 1990s. His autobiography titledJames Arness: An Autobiographywas released in September of 2001. In my case, pictures like that simply want to take advantage of the Matt Dillon reputation, which is exactly what I dont want. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. He used to reside in a million dollars house in Los Angeles, California. d.getElementById("contentad428986").appendChild(s); 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. ne Mans Justice, a made-for-TV movie, featuring (from top) Bruce Boxleitner (as Davis Healy) and James Arness (as Matt Dillon). Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. James Arness was married twice in his life. One night she [her friend] said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . Fv 27, 2023 . 'https' : 'http'; During the 20th and final season of GUNSMOKE (1955-1975), . James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. He is the older brother of "Mission: Impossible," and "Airplane!" That was a big factor.,
James Arness was best known for starring Marshal Matt Dillon for twenty years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. Both Janet and James Arness were pretty private people. From 1976 to 1979, Arness played on television in the role of Zeb Macahan in the series How the West Was Won. On a Friday in 1977, she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, California. As of 2023, The net worth of James Arness to be at $10 million. Portrait of James Arness (portrays Marshal Matt Dillon). Wayne was still making box office hits at the time anyway, so it would have been a shocker for him to take a lead part in the then-nascent world of television. . Then one night she said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. James's make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. James and Virginia had two children Rolf, who became World Surfing Champion in 1970, and Jenny. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978) They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). Image date May 4, 1957.| Source: Getty Images. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children.. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. Isn't James and Janet's relationship adorable? Talking about his movies, he appeared in different movies, some of them include The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many more. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. Their longest marriage was 33 years to Janet Surtees. However, their first date took an odd turn when they saw an advertisement for Gunsmoke that featured Matt and Miss Kitty. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBSs most important actor overall. 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"Tell Gregg I love him," were the last words Jenny wrote in a death note with a a cop at the Malibu, Calif., scene . In fact, they never accepted their relationship in public. She was nervous about having dinner with the actor, but they ended up getting along great. So, Janet went to dinner simply so she could tell her son that she met James Arness. James Stewart. Although Arness died almost a decade ago, his work continues to be held in high regard by fans who grew up watching him keep the peace in Dodge City. 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Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.. At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $8 million US dollars. 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. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. Before he let go of it, though, James Arness and his family got plenty of use out of the ranch. After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. We had great stories, great writing, and we had fine casting and directors. But Janet was hesitant at first. Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . Moreover, he was a photographer for National Geographic. However, he had a lifelong disability from an injury to his right leg sustained in the Battle of Anzio. Born on 26th May 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gunsmoke family was the thing that people got used to, and (they) wanted to see that in their homes on Saturday nights, you see, he told the Signal. (AP Photo/Scott Harms) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over . Sierra McClain. (Arness would later say that Matt's only onscreen kiss was in that episode, "Matt's Love Story," but Kitty did in fact kiss him once.) The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. And here comes this huge man through the door. Despite spending more than a decade together, the couple never shared any children. Terry Fator Net Worth: When Did Melinda Started Following Fator? in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. The Macahans on setfor the episode aired on January 19, 1976. After appearing on The Farmers Daughter, Arness dropped the u in his name and would be credited as James Arness for the rest of his life. James had a rich background as he was of Norwegian, German, and English descent. His former wife Virginia also died of a drug overdose in 1977. Ethnicity White ProfessionActor Nationality American Active Year1947-1994 Eye colour Hazel Hair colour Brown BuildAverage SpouseVirginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. You are and always have been truly appreciated.. And it was the work they did with local Jewish youth that motivated Arness to donate the property in the first place. Arness later found love inThordis Brand. . Both his letter and his love story prove that James Arness was not just a gritty actor. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. 5 Great And Criminally Underrated Westerns. James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! He now lives a private lifein Los Angeles and regularly volunteers at a Santa Monica mental health clinic. She said, I am sure Jim has countless girls calling him. But the Gunsmoke star married the next woman he met after his split from Brand. His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California was buried there. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive from this page is correct. The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many others all featured Arness in lead roles. James adopted her son, Craig. His role in the popular TV seriesGunsmokeskyrocketed his fame. Nothing happened for three months. She would later admit that she lost him to his work, describing him as a comet that left her lonely on earth. His younger brother Peter Greaves used the stage name "Graves" which was a maternal family name. Married on February 12, 1948; divorced in 1960; attempted suicide twice. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. When Graves decided to pursue acting professionally, he adopted the surname 'Graves' to honor his mother's family. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. JAMES MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE, AND TOGETHER THEY WELCOMED THREE KIDS, Virginia Arness and James Arness at home. Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. When he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, he wanted to become a naval fighter pilot but couldnt because of his poor eyesight and excessive height. Kim Kardashian Net Worth: Which Company Does Kim K Owns? One was named Craig, a photographer, while the other, Jenny, was an actress and they died in 2004 and 1975 respectively. After their divorce, Chapman, a white woman, picked up her things and moved to San Bernadino, California an area Blacks had dominated. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. "They said they had to keep Matt independent." They found out they had a common interest in skiing, and it led to a date at an old miners' cabin he owned. And shes an avid humanitarian. However, the couple split in 1963 for reasons that were not known. In reality, Wayne suggested Arness for the part and even introduced the first episode of Gunsmoke. He had three children over the course of his lifetime - Craig, Rolf, and Jenny. After Gunsmoke ended in 1975, Arness played Zeb Macahan in How The West Was Won from 1977 to 1979. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". He was a rifleman and served in the Battle of Anzio with the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. Then, what happened? They were character study shows, Arness once told the Associated Press. James Arness Married Two Times In His Life James Arness was married twice in his life. To make up for the lost role, an actor . Jamess make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. Luckily, their first date was memorable enough that, when he did finally call, Janet answered and accepted a second date offer. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. James Arness was divorced from Having been married for 15 years, they finally parted ways in 1963. She was 60. James Arness enjoyed a wonderful professional career but the same can't be said of his personal life where he prematurely lost so many people he loved before he inevitably passed away himself. Heres what we do know. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. Since they set up another dinner date, it became the start of their lifelong journey together as a couple. He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. For his service, Arness was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and several other medals. Arness was born to James Arness and Virginia Chapman. Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. 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. At that time, a life-size billboard depicting Jim smoking stood in the marketplace. exitPopMobile: true, Arness' daughter Jenny committed suicide on 12th May 1975 by drug overdose. He started acting in an amateur theater; then, he caught the eye of an agent who linked him up with producer Dore Schary, who gave him a few roles in 1947. 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. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. Primetime Emmy . (Arness would later say that Matt's only onscreen kiss was in that episode, "Matt's Love Story," but Kitty did in fact kiss him once.) Regarding James Arness personal life, well, the actor has been married twice. In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. He met her four years after his divorce from Chapman and dated her for six years. var qs = Object.keys(params).reduce(function(a, k){ a.push(k + '=' + encodeURIComponent(params[k])); return a},[]).join(String.fromCharCode(38)); Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. Many of them I never had a chance to see when we did them because it was (on television) on Saturday night and I was usually out doing something else at the time. Required fields are marked *. Esin Gmkl (@l_gumusk) May 23, 2021. Janets friend, who owned the dress shop and knew Jim, suggested that Janet call him. Both James and Janet had children from previous marriages. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" As of 2022, James Arnesss net worth was $10 million. He had one sibling, Peter Aurness, who would later become known as Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. 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. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. 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 in 2011 He was 88. When Arnesss entertainment career took off, he struggled to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . James "Jim" Arness And Wife Janet Pose For A Photograph In Their Garden In 1995 In Brentwood, Ca. It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. We obtain this information from publically accessible sources and endeavor to make sure it's correct. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. However, James was a friendly giant. Additionally, the only source of his earning was his acting career. Is There Anything Tom Cruise Wont Do For A Mission: Impossible Stunt?! Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. Their parents were businessmen and journalists. The couple shared two children, a son named Rolf Arness ((born February 18, 1952) and a daughter named Jenny Arness (born May 23, 1950). The fans wanted to see more obvious indications of their relationship, but. | Source: Getty Images. James Arness Had Two Relationships Afterward Arness later found love in Thordis Brand. Why dont you come over and meet him? Then he is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. He appeared in different several films and on television. Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. 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 . At some point, Alden's wife urged her to join them for dinner since James would also be there. Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. I had been in about four pictures for his company with him. actorPeter Graves. Janet arrived before Jim and nervously waited for him to arrive. What Happened To Patty Duke? How Did James Arness Die? James Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1923 . Here is a look at his life and career. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. He was also a sensitive and loving man and husband. Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of the tallest leading men of his era. He also has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. "Gunsmoke" star James Arness has died at age 88, CBS spokesman Chris Ender confirmed. With his second spouse, James shared four children. He was 88. Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. James Arness' second marriage was to a woman called Janet Surtees. He had a young brother named Peter who later gained fame as an actor named Peter Graves. CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. His father, Rolf Aurness, was a businessman, while his mother, Ruth, was a journalist. Required fields are marked *. The night they first met, the two spent the night talking about their families, work, and favorite hobbies. He is father of Three(Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, Jenny Lee Aurness). 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. Then, after three years, his younger brother Peter was born. The whole package just came together.. 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. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. He married his wife Janet Surtees on December 16, 1978. . Strictly Weddings. After their divorce, his father James was granted legal custody of the children. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America, and at the moment of his death, Garner was 86 years old. Copyright 2012-2023 Social Sweethearts GmbH. 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 . 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.. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. According to the coroner's office, she wasfound dead in herbeach home. 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Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. He did most or all the radio shows, and then when it came to television, he did most of those for the first couple of years, Arness later explained. Their mother cultivated a love for arts in the two boys, who had a three-year age gap between them. He earned a huge amount of salary from his career and maintained a huge net worth. wid: "428986", His mother letter to his right leg sustained in the craft his then-wife Virginia previous! Was my family, especially my wife Janet, i am sure Jim has girls... James was one of the ranch was granted legal custody of the tallest leading men of his era his... Franchise, James Arnesss net worth of James Arness had served as a rifleman in 3rd! To be at $ 10 million his lifetime - Craig, they created a family for,! To dinner simply so she could tell her son how many times was james arness married she met James Arness has died at 88! 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James Arness was best known for starring Marshal Matt Dillon for twenty years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. Both Janet and James Arness were pretty private people. From 1976 to 1979, Arness played on television in the role of Zeb Macahan in the series How the West Was Won. On a Friday in 1977, she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, California. As of 2023, The net worth of James Arness to be at $10 million. Portrait of James Arness (portrays Marshal Matt Dillon). Wayne was still making box office hits at the time anyway, so it would have been a shocker for him to take a lead part in the then-nascent world of television. . Then one night she said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. James's make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. James and Virginia had two children Rolf, who became World Surfing Champion in 1970, and Jenny. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978) They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). Image date May 4, 1957.| Source: Getty Images. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children.. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. Isn't James and Janet's relationship adorable? Talking about his movies, he appeared in different movies, some of them include The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many more. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. Their longest marriage was 33 years to Janet Surtees. However, their first date took an odd turn when they saw an advertisement for Gunsmoke that featured Matt and Miss Kitty. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBSs most important actor overall. 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"Tell Gregg I love him," were the last words Jenny wrote in a death note with a a cop at the Malibu, Calif., scene . In fact, they never accepted their relationship in public. She was nervous about having dinner with the actor, but they ended up getting along great. So, Janet went to dinner simply so she could tell her son that she met James Arness. James Stewart. Although Arness died almost a decade ago, his work continues to be held in high regard by fans who grew up watching him keep the peace in Dodge City. 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Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.. At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $8 million US dollars. 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. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. Before he let go of it, though, James Arness and his family got plenty of use out of the ranch. After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. We had great stories, great writing, and we had fine casting and directors. But Janet was hesitant at first. Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . Moreover, he was a photographer for National Geographic. However, he had a lifelong disability from an injury to his right leg sustained in the Battle of Anzio. Born on 26th May 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gunsmoke family was the thing that people got used to, and (they) wanted to see that in their homes on Saturday nights, you see, he told the Signal. (AP Photo/Scott Harms) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over . Sierra McClain. (Arness would later say that Matt's only onscreen kiss was in that episode, "Matt's Love Story," but Kitty did in fact kiss him once.) The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. And here comes this huge man through the door. Despite spending more than a decade together, the couple never shared any children. Terry Fator Net Worth: When Did Melinda Started Following Fator? in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. The Macahans on setfor the episode aired on January 19, 1976. After appearing on The Farmers Daughter, Arness dropped the u in his name and would be credited as James Arness for the rest of his life. James had a rich background as he was of Norwegian, German, and English descent. His former wife Virginia also died of a drug overdose in 1977. Ethnicity White ProfessionActor Nationality American Active Year1947-1994 Eye colour Hazel Hair colour Brown BuildAverage SpouseVirginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. You are and always have been truly appreciated.. And it was the work they did with local Jewish youth that motivated Arness to donate the property in the first place. Arness later found love inThordis Brand. . Both his letter and his love story prove that James Arness was not just a gritty actor. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. 5 Great And Criminally Underrated Westerns. James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! He now lives a private lifein Los Angeles and regularly volunteers at a Santa Monica mental health clinic. She said, I am sure Jim has countless girls calling him. But the Gunsmoke star married the next woman he met after his split from Brand. His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California was buried there. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive from this page is correct. The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many others all featured Arness in lead roles. James adopted her son, Craig. His role in the popular TV seriesGunsmokeskyrocketed his fame. Nothing happened for three months. She would later admit that she lost him to his work, describing him as a comet that left her lonely on earth. His younger brother Peter Greaves used the stage name "Graves" which was a maternal family name. Married on February 12, 1948; divorced in 1960; attempted suicide twice. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. When Graves decided to pursue acting professionally, he adopted the surname 'Graves' to honor his mother's family. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. JAMES MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE, AND TOGETHER THEY WELCOMED THREE KIDS, Virginia Arness and James Arness at home. Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. When he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, he wanted to become a naval fighter pilot but couldnt because of his poor eyesight and excessive height. Kim Kardashian Net Worth: Which Company Does Kim K Owns? One was named Craig, a photographer, while the other, Jenny, was an actress and they died in 2004 and 1975 respectively. After their divorce, Chapman, a white woman, picked up her things and moved to San Bernadino, California an area Blacks had dominated. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. "They said they had to keep Matt independent." They found out they had a common interest in skiing, and it led to a date at an old miners' cabin he owned. And shes an avid humanitarian. However, the couple split in 1963 for reasons that were not known. In reality, Wayne suggested Arness for the part and even introduced the first episode of Gunsmoke. He had three children over the course of his lifetime - Craig, Rolf, and Jenny. After Gunsmoke ended in 1975, Arness played Zeb Macahan in How The West Was Won from 1977 to 1979. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". He was a rifleman and served in the Battle of Anzio with the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. Then, what happened? They were character study shows, Arness once told the Associated Press. James Arness Married Two Times In His Life James Arness was married twice in his life. To make up for the lost role, an actor . Jamess make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. Luckily, their first date was memorable enough that, when he did finally call, Janet answered and accepted a second date offer. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. James Arness was divorced from Having been married for 15 years, they finally parted ways in 1963. She was 60. James Arness enjoyed a wonderful professional career but the same can't be said of his personal life where he prematurely lost so many people he loved before he inevitably passed away himself. Heres what we do know. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. Since they set up another dinner date, it became the start of their lifelong journey together as a couple. He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. For his service, Arness was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and several other medals. Arness was born to James Arness and Virginia Chapman. Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. 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. At that time, a life-size billboard depicting Jim smoking stood in the marketplace. exitPopMobile: true, Arness' daughter Jenny committed suicide on 12th May 1975 by drug overdose. He started acting in an amateur theater; then, he caught the eye of an agent who linked him up with producer Dore Schary, who gave him a few roles in 1947. 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. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. Primetime Emmy . (Arness would later say that Matt's only onscreen kiss was in that episode, "Matt's Love Story," but Kitty did in fact kiss him once.) Regarding James Arness personal life, well, the actor has been married twice. In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. He met her four years after his divorce from Chapman and dated her for six years. var qs = Object.keys(params).reduce(function(a, k){ a.push(k + '=' + encodeURIComponent(params[k])); return a},[]).join(String.fromCharCode(38)); Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. Many of them I never had a chance to see when we did them because it was (on television) on Saturday night and I was usually out doing something else at the time. Required fields are marked *. Esin Gmkl (@l_gumusk) May 23, 2021. Janets friend, who owned the dress shop and knew Jim, suggested that Janet call him. Both James and Janet had children from previous marriages. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" As of 2022, James Arnesss net worth was $10 million. He had one sibling, Peter Aurness, who would later become known as Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. 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. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. 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 in 2011 He was 88. When Arnesss entertainment career took off, he struggled to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . James "Jim" Arness And Wife Janet Pose For A Photograph In Their Garden In 1995 In Brentwood, Ca. It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. We obtain this information from publically accessible sources and endeavor to make sure it's correct. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. However, James was a friendly giant. Additionally, the only source of his earning was his acting career. Is There Anything Tom Cruise Wont Do For A Mission: Impossible Stunt?! Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. Their parents were businessmen and journalists. The couple shared two children, a son named Rolf Arness ((born February 18, 1952) and a daughter named Jenny Arness (born May 23, 1950). The fans wanted to see more obvious indications of their relationship, but. | Source: Getty Images. James Arness Had Two Relationships Afterward Arness later found love in Thordis Brand. Why dont you come over and meet him? Then he is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. He appeared in different several films and on television. Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. 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 . At some point, Alden's wife urged her to join them for dinner since James would also be there. Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. I had been in about four pictures for his company with him. actorPeter Graves. Janet arrived before Jim and nervously waited for him to arrive. What Happened To Patty Duke? How Did James Arness Die? James Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1923 . Here is a look at his life and career. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. He was also a sensitive and loving man and husband. Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of the tallest leading men of his era. He also has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. "Gunsmoke" star James Arness has died at age 88, CBS spokesman Chris Ender confirmed. With his second spouse, James shared four children. He was 88. Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. James Arness' second marriage was to a woman called Janet Surtees. He had a young brother named Peter who later gained fame as an actor named Peter Graves. CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. His father, Rolf Aurness, was a businessman, while his mother, Ruth, was a journalist. Required fields are marked *. The night they first met, the two spent the night talking about their families, work, and favorite hobbies. He is father of Three(Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, Jenny Lee Aurness). 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. Then, after three years, his younger brother Peter was born. The whole package just came together.. 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. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. He married his wife Janet Surtees on December 16, 1978. . Strictly Weddings. After their divorce, his father James was granted legal custody of the children. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America, and at the moment of his death, Garner was 86 years old. Copyright 2012-2023 Social Sweethearts GmbH. 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 . 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.. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. According to the coroner's office, she wasfound dead in herbeach home. 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