(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (function(d) { He even worked as a radio announcer before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. And his mothers name is Ruth Duesler who was from Germany and was a journalist by the profession. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. James Arness married two women in his lifetime the first, a woman with whom he shared three kids, faded into obscurity after their divorce, but the second lady stood by his side till death parted them. With his second spouse, James shared four children. James Arness doesnt seem to be active on different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Janet has been with him until his dying last breath. His unexpected act of generosity left a lasting impression on her. 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. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. 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. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". James Stewart. His younger brother Peter Greaves used the stage name "Graves" which was a maternal family name. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. James Arness and Virginia Chapman gave birth to a son, Rolf, (born February 18, 1952) and a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness (May 23, 1950 - May 12, 1975). James Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1923 . This is not the case. Arness wrote a letter to his fans that he asked Janet to post on his website after his passing. 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. (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.) Arnes was of American nationality and used to belongs to the white ethnicity. The actor founded Westlight, a stock photography agency. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. Having been married for 15 years, they finally parted ways in 1963. Surtees was surprised when she saw James pick up all the trash and stuff it in his saddle and is convinced he was a "cool guy.". Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television. 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.. He also played the title character in The Thing From Another World and starred in Them! Born on 26th May 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. And it was great. Arness' daughter Jenny committed suicide on 12th May 1975 by drug overdose. 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. Your email address will not be published. He often talked about watching Gunsmoke whenever he saw it on TV. But information about her mother isnt available in the media. James had a son named Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970. Arness was sent to General Hospital at Clinton Iowa during the time by the U.S. Army because of his short height where he was the 1st one offered to have a landing craft for the determination of the complexity of the water. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. It aired for 20 seasons and made him and other actors in it world-famous. Strictly Weddings. 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. Growing up, their mother instilled a love for the arts, Peter pursued it immediately, but James, it took him a lot longer before realizing it was his destiny. Ethnicity White ProfessionActor Nationality American Active Year1947-1994 Eye colour Hazel Hair colour Brown BuildAverage SpouseVirginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. Arness had a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter. Peter Graves, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother. 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. Through their marital relationship, the couple had four children Rolf Arness, Craig Arness, Jim Arness, and Jenny Lee Arness. Learn how your comment data is processed. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. After that day they didn't meet again for about three months. James Arness was born as James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. He used to reside in a million dollars house in Los Angeles, California. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. "They said they had to keep Matt independent." Arness married . There just was never anybody else like him.. He appeared in different several films and on television. Arness yet served as a rifleman during the Infantry Division in the 3rd range within the United States. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. During an interview, Janet opened up about the night she met James. So, basically, the most romantic date ever. Jamess make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. His wife passed away due to a drug overdose. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. For the whole 20 years the series was on the air from 1955 until 1975, he appeared in an impressive 605 of 635 episodes, according to IMBD . Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. Advertisement 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. After dinner, he walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you,' said Janet. 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). I had a wonderful life and was blessed with so many loving people and great friends. The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. The move was a fulfilling one for Chapman, who started a motel service opened to all in California because she believed integration could only happen when white people, especially those at the top, stepped forward to mix with the black society. Moreover, he was a photographer for National Geographic. Both Janet and James Arness were pretty private people. 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. James Arness was married twice. Gunsmoke is a TV Western drama series that ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS. Janet met James while she was working at a clothing store. 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. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. James Arness has been bestowed many honors for . Moreover, in theEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, he won three bronze battle stars. He eventually called her and asked her on a dinner date that led to the relationship that lasted till his death. After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. In high school, he appeared in school plays, but he showed no interest in performing instead, he yearned to go to sea. He was a one-of-a-kind guy. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. The two were inseparable after that and married a few years later. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. Image date July 23, 1955.| Source: Getty Images. Jeremiah Green Cause of Death: Jeremiah Green left Modest Mouse when? Here is a look at his life and career. There they had food and spoke about their families. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. I want major pictures and I dont care if its not the leading role.. Celeb Couples with Huge Age Gaps Who Prove Age Is Just a Number with Love, Hoda Kotb's Fans Raise Concern over Her Cryptic Post amid Absence from 'Today' Show, John Francis Bongiovi Sr Is Jon Bon Jovi's Father Who Has Always Been Supportive of His Career, James MacArthur Called Wife of 25 Years Hard Boiled Yet Their Marriage Was Better than Anything', Inside Dick Van Dyke & Decades Younger Wifes Home Where He Shows off Routine He Says Will Get Him to 100, James Garner Became 'Greatest Father' after Adopting Wife's Child despite Being Unloved by His Stepmom. Arness might be known for Gunsmoke, but that was hardly the only thing he did. 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. His birth date ison May 26, 1923. And then it'd be a different show." "They'd say that would ruin it," Byrnes confirms. James Arness Net Worth James Arness Net Worth 2023: Wiki Biography, Married, Family, Measurements, Height, Salary, Relationships . (AP Photo/Scott Harms) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over . He is best remembered for his role of 'Marshal Matt Dillon' in the long-running television Western Gunsmoke (1955 to 1975). They led a happily married life since their nuptials, supporting each other through thick and thin until the actor's passing in 2011. She died in 1977 from a drug overdose, following her daughter's death two years prior on the same cause. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. In 1960, he had a star placed in honor of him at 1751 Vine Street on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. The actor passed away at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, at his Brentwood home. 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. wid: "428986", James Arness with his first wife Virginia Chapman But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. In 2006, Arness said he felt like the luckiest guy in the world because of his experiences. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. John Wayne suggested Arness for the role of Matt Dillon. He was 88. Since she was already familiar with his profession, she decided to talk about her own. And shes an avid humanitarian. Janets father and brother were both pilots. James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. He first shared wedding vows with Virginia Chapman in 1948. So from the movies success, he might have received a decent amount of money. Arness adopted Chapmans son Craig, who died in 2004. His former wife Virginia also died of a drug overdose in 1977. However, they didn't get married or have children from their relationship. Then, after three years, his younger brother Peter was born. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. Here is a look at his life and career. Janet described meeting Arness after he had already begun filming Gunsmoke in an interview with A Word on Westerns. Thordis Brandt, who was also an actress, was the actors longtime lover. However, the couple split in 1963 for reasons that were not known. 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). However, after one magical date, James didnt call Janet for three months! var p = 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. He grew up with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actor. From 1955 through 1975, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the Western drama Gunsmoke. Required fields are marked *. He was very polite and friendly.. Along with Rolf Arness, his stepson Jim Surtees, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild, she survived him. However, in 1971, he was forced to temporarily leave the show for just a handful of episodes because he had to undergo heart surgery after suffering a heart attack. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Likely, they were also blessed with a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. After multiple surgeries, he was thenmedically discharged. In addition, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34 movies, as well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies. He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . He and Peter participated in the Second World War, but unfortunately, he didn't leave the battlefield uninjured. She would later admit that she lost him to his work, describing him as a comet that left her lonely on earth. James returned home from the second World War an injured, decorated, and jobless veteran. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). I had been in about four pictures for his company with him. Sadly, Chapman passed away in 1977 after a heroin overdose. To start, we went to a food store, Janet explained. James Arness married his second wife Janet Surtees in 1978 and remained together till his death. Moreover, his ethnicity is Mixed(German and Norwegian). In 1978, Arness wed Janet Surtees for the second time. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. We were a family together. They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. James and Janet lived happily, even after his stint as Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke" and his movies. }; He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. James has been known for the role throughout his career, which is why the subsequent projects he starred in are linked to it. Janet still lives in Los Angeles where she lived with James before his passing, according to Celeb Suburb. The couple shared a son named Jim from Janet's previous relationship. TV Land, theyre on there; we were on the Westerns channel but then a few months ago they took us off. He left behind his wife of 33 years when the actor himself passed away. He is the older brother of "Mission: Impossible," and "Airplane!" Despite having a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter, Arnesss dream came to the end because of his eyesight problem. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. He wrote, I decided to write a letter to you for Janet to post on our website in the event I was no longer here. Who Is Ashton Kutcher Married To? [21] He adopted her son. You are and always have been truly appreciated.. Her parents married in 1948 and divorced in 1963 after 15 years of marriage. There is a longstanding rumor that John Wayne was considered for the part of Matt Dillon, but he turned it down. Her name is Janet Surtees and the two were married for 33 years. His fathers name is Rolf Virkler Aurness who was from Norway. [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. He amassed most of this through his long-standing Hollywood career. James Arness married two women in his lifetime the first, a woman with whom he shared three kids, faded into obscurity after their divorce, but the second lady stood by his side till death parted them. 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. Born James King Aurness to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler,Jameslived a pretty wealthy life being from Norweigan and of German descent. Despite this, Janet and Arness had a great day as they strolled by a beautiful waterfall. Additionally, he directed five episodes of the . 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Jenny Arness, the actor's beautiful 24-year old daughter, killed herself with a lethal overdose of sleeping pills after watching an episode of Cher's Sunday night CBS television show that had Gregg Allman as a guest. His real issue though was his height. The Macahans on setfor the episode aired on January 19, 1976. Gangsta Boo Cause of Death: Did Gangsta Boo Tie The Knot? His autobiography titledJames Arness: An Autobiographywas released in September of 2001. His father, Rolf Aurness, was a businessman, while his mother, Ruth, was a journalist. He was found dead at Brentwoods home in Los Angeles, California. actorPeter Graves. His nationality is American. One of the most amazing actors of all time, and also a man over whom there always remained millions of crushes, James Garner, was born on April 7, 1928. So I thought, Well, okay, Ill meet Jim and tell my son I met him,' said Janet. 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