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James Arness

 
General Information (James Arness)
  
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Mostly Credited As: James Arness
Sometimes Credited As: Jim Arness
James Aurness
Jim Aurness
Birth Name: James Aurness
Date Of Birth: May 26, 1923 (Age 86)
Country Of Birth: USA
Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Height: 6' 7" (2 m)
Spouse
Janet Surtrees Dec/16/1978 - Present
Virginia Chapman Feb/12/1948 - 1960 (Divorced) (3 children)

James started his career as a radio announcer in his home state of Minnesota in 1945. His break in the field of movies came in 1947 after moving to Los Angeles and getting a role in The Farmer's Daughter along with a number of Westerns. In 1951 he landed a part in the horror classic "The Thing." In the early '50s James was signed to Bat Jack productions, owned by John Wayne. After acting with "The Duke" in four films over the next three years his big break came when John Wayne turned down the CBS offer to star as Marshall Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke and suggesting that James play the part. So started a 20 year run until the show was canceled after the 1975 season. After leaving Dodge City, Arness would go on to star in "How The West Was Won," a mini series which ran over three seasons from 1976-79. Except for a few appearances on TV movies, James stayed behind the camera as a producer and a consultant for a few projects.
 
 
James Arness TV Appearances
  
Main cast 
Show: McClain's Law(1981)As: Jim McClain
Show: How the West Was Won(1978)As: Zeb Macahan
Show: Gunsmoke(1955)As: Matt Dillon
Episode Cast Credits 
Show: This Is Your Life (1971) (1971) 
  • Peter Graves 01x01: (Jan/28/1971) As Himself 
Show: The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) 
  • Bing Crosby, James Arness, Marcel Marceau 11x16: (Jan/12/1958) As Himself 
Show: Front Row Center (1955) 
  • The Challenge 02x03: (Jan/22/1956) As Hemp Brown 
Show: The Johnny Carson Show (1955) 
  • Sept. 8 1955 01x01: (Sep/08/1955) As Himself 
Show: The Lux Video Theatre (1950) 
  • The Chase 05x19: (Dec/30/1954) As Chuck Scott 
Show: The Lone Ranger (1949) (1949) 
  • Matter of Courage 01x33: (Apr/27/1950) As Deputy Bud Taggart 
 
James Arness Crew Credits
  
Show: Gunsmoke (1955)• Executive Producer
• Associate Producer (1959-1964)
 
James Arness Trivia
  
He is the elder brother of Peter Graves.
 
He has three nieces, Kelly, Claudia and Amanda, the daughters of his younger brother, Peter Graves.
 
He played the role of Marshal Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke" from 1955 to 1975. This is the longest running prime time role in American television history. It has only been equalled once, by Kelsey Grammer in 2004.
 
His daughter, Jenny Lee Aurness, died of a drug overdose in 1975.
 
He has two sons, Craig and Rolf.
 
He was married to Virginia Chapman from February 12, 1948 to 1960. They had three children, Jenny, Craig and Rolf.
 
 
James Arness Quotes
  
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