Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. His former wife Virginia also died of a drug overdose in 1977. He had one sibling, Peter Aurness, who would later become known as Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. In reality, Wayne suggested Arness for the part and even introduced the first episode of Gunsmoke. In the letter, James wanted to take his time to thank all his fans of Gunsmoke,The Thing, How the West Was Won as well as all the other projects he was lucky to be part of. In addition, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34 movies, as well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies. Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. All Rights Reserved. Gunsmoke: Meet Marshal Matt Dillon Actor James Arness Second Wife Janet Surtees. Primetime Emmy . Actors usually have a hard time watching their own work, but this was not a problem for Arness. As of 2023, The net worth of James Arness to be at $10 million. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. He had three children over the course of his lifetime - Craig, Rolf, and Jenny. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960. However, legendary Western actor John Wayne thought he had star potential. Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. 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. Moreover, he had also won the Golden Boot Award. CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. [21] He adopted her son. He met her four yearsafter his divorce fromChapman and dated herfor six years. Sadly, Chapman passed away in 1977 after a heroin overdose. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBS's most important actor overall. During theBattle of Anzio, he was severely wounded in his right leg. This included the deaths of his daughter and ex-wife merely two years apart. He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. She was 56 years old at the time of her death. (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.) It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. According to the coroner's office, she wasfound dead in herbeach home. The couple shared a son named Jim from Janet's previous relationship. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", In the letter, James thanks all of his fans for cheering him on throughout his career. I want major pictures and I dont care if its not the leading role.. 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. James Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948. He played Detective Jim McClain on the TV show McClains Law for two seasons, 1981 and 1982. Gunsmoke is a TV Western drama series that ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS. [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. John Wayne suggested Arness for the role of Matt Dillon. Moreover, James attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. On the other side of the spectrum, James's son as well as his only remaining offspring by blood, Rolf Arness made his father proud when he became World Surfing Champion in 1970. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. Tulsa Kings Sylvester Stallone Based His Dwight Performance On Himself (Even Some After Tweaks), Watch Sam Elliotts Emotional Tribute To His 1883 Castmates, Clint Eastwood Choked Down Vile Cigars For The Sake Of A Fistful Of Dollars, How Clint Eastwood Really Spends His Enormous Fortune, Sam Elliott Is Right 1883s Shea & Thomas NEED A Prequel, Kevin Costners Yellowstone Tension: A Full Breakdown, 1923 Star Brandon Sklenar Saw A Ghost While Filming The Finale On The Queen Mary: Its Pretty Wild, Forrie J. Smith Says Lloyd Being Punished By Rip Made Some Fans Consider Quitting Yellowstone, Yellowstones Cole Hauser Inks New Deal To Become Face Of PBR, Lonesome Dove: 5 Things You Didnt Know About the Iconic Series. There just was never anybody else like him.. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", Yet, they went their separate ways in the end. The. She loves to volunteer and can often be found working with the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California was buried there. His performance as a quiet man with an amazing sense of justicewas appreciated by millions of fans. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. James Arness was married twice in his life. Arness was passionate about Gunsmoke, but he put his children ahead of his shooting schedule. He used to reside in a million dollars house in Los Angeles, California. 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. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. 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. Jim Arness (1971), (Bettmann/contributor/getty images), James Arness, Janet (1995), (Getty Images/Staff), James Arness, Janet (2001), (David Keeler/Getty Images). However, the couple split in 1963 for reasons that were not known. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. On June 3, 2011, he died of natural causes. In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. However, they didn't get married or have children from their relationship. You are and always have been truly appreciated.. He is best remembered for his role of 'Marshal Matt Dillon' in the long-running television Western Gunsmoke (1955 to 1975). After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. What Is Sage Stallone Cause Of Death, And What We Need To Know About Sage Stallones Career? Arness could rest easy knowing that he will forever be associated with the Wild West thanks to the shows lasting rerun success. The next day he called her and asked if she wanted to go to Mammoth Lakes, and she said yes. Janets friend, who owned the dress shop and knew Jim, suggested that Janet call him. "Gunsmoke" star James Arness has died at age 88, CBS spokesman Chris Ender confirmed. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.. (AP) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over the television . 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. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. Incredibly, although he played a Western hero for most of his life, the leg injury made it impossible for him to ride a horse. She was a beautiful and gracious lady who had a lot to do with the success of 'Gunsmoke, series star James Arness said Thursday. His father was a vendor for surgical instruments while his mom stayed home to tend the house and raise the kids she later became a newspaper columnist, and her marriage with Rolf ended in the 40s. They were last married in 1978 to Janet Surtees. Besides his wife, survivors include a son from his first marriage, Rolf Aurness, who was the world surfing champion in 1970; a stepson, Jim Surtees; and. James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. Janet described meeting Arness after he had already begun filming Gunsmoke in an interview with A Word on Westerns. But the Gunsmoke star married the next woman he met after his split from Brand. The Macahans on setfor the episode aired on January 19, 1976. But Janet refused. To start, we went to a food store, Janet explained. James Arness is not having an affair with anyone presently. 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. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. He was a one-of-a-kind guy. Actor James Arness (right) with his brother, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He had a young brother named Peter who later gained fame as an actor named Peter Graves. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They found out they had a common interest in skiing, and it led to a date at an old miners' cabin he owned. Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years as Frasier Crane from 1984 to 2004 on "Cheers" and then on "Frasier." . Why dont you come over and meet him? Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. The couple got married in 1978 and remained together until the death of the actor in 2011. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. Who Is Ashton Kutcher Married To? Furthermore, James' brother, a well-known Misson: Impossible actor Peter Graves died of a heart attack on 14th March 2010. His father belonged to Norwegian ancestry whereas his mother's belonged to German. Peter was famous for his portrayal of Jim Phelps in the CBS TV series Mission: Impossible. He didn't remarry for 18 whole years until Janet Surtees came along. They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. James Arness was married to Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. His second wife, who was married to him until he passed away, wasJanet Surtees. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. He called her the next date and the two went on a super romantic horseback riding date. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978). James Arness was divorced from The tragedy does not stop there. He first shared wedding vows withVirginia Chapman in 1948. The series ran for two decades from 1955 to 1975. Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. However, in 1963, James Arness divorced Virginia Chapman. And it was great. He married his wife Janet Surtees on December 16, 1978. . Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. ', Your email address will not be published. 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. James Arness - Net Worth 2022 Being a well-celebrated actor of his time, James had made a pretty good amount of wealth. During an interview, Janet opened up about the night she met James. His portrayal of Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke earned him accolades and wealth for many years beyond the twenty-year run of the show. In 1943, James received his draft notice, joining the army and training. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. Arness' remained with his second wife until his death in 2011. James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. Arness was known to be a shy and sensitive man. Arness had a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter. 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. There was a high rumor about a long-term relationship between James Arness and actress, Thordis Brandt, but they never get married. Arness career began in 1947 when he played one of Loretta Youngs brothers in The Farmers Daughter. The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many others all featured Arness in lead roles. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. Janet Surtees Arness is. But, his role as Zeb Macahan in "How The West Was Won" sealed him as a television icon in the United States and Europe. Required fields are marked *. He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. We were a family together. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet. Inside the marriage of Janet and her Late Husband James Arness. He believed the family seen on Gunsmoke was why people kept going back to it for two decades. Image date July 23, 1955.| Source: Getty Images. However, Arness was eventually pulled back to Gunsmoke, starring in five made-for-TV movies between 1987 and 1993. In the 1940s, he married Dorothy Gillooly (19262012), who had served in the Women's Army Corps. Although he was a famous actor, James liked to keep his personal life under wraps. Arness died on 3 June 2011 of natural causes at the age of 88. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. He even worked as a radio announcer before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. April 22, 1955| Source: Getty Images. Janet remarked, After we were through, what had truly struck me about Jim was he stood up and he picked up all the trash that had been left on the ground by people who had camped there before and he put it in his saddlebag. He tidied up the entire area, and I thought, Now, thats a cool man. The night they first met, the two spent the night talking about their families, work, and favorite hobbies. During the 20th and final season of GUNSMOKE (1955-1975), . 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 rifleman and served in the Battle of Anzio with the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. From 1955 to 1975, he starred in the weekly series "Gunsmoke." Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. He often talked about watching Gunsmoke whenever he saw it on TV. Image dated September 27, 1993. He appeared in different several films and on television. Arness was a respected soldier of World War II. According to Ginny Fazer, who handles his business affairs, he is in good health but has simply been fading. Nothing wrong with him medically; he just grew tired, I suppose. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television He was very polite and friendly.. He pursued acting as a profession, but most leading males refused to work with him due to his towering stature. The couple shared two children, a son named Rolf Arness ( (born February 18, 1952) and a daughter named Jenny Arness (born May 23, 1950). Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldnt last long. Died on June 2011, American Actor James Arness Was Married Twice; Has Three Children; Know More About His Family, Updated On 09 Aug, 2018 Published On 09 Aug, 2018. They also shared an adopted a son who Virginia Chapman had from another marriage. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). Before arriving at his home in the mountains, the two stopped at the grocery store because Jim loved food. They picked up bread, cheese, wine, and other goodies. While shopping, Janet noticed a lifesize advertisement with James on it. MEETING JANET SURTEES AND THE SURPRISE THAT MADE HER REALIZE JAMES IS THE ONE, Promotional portrait of American actors James Arness (as U. S. Marshal Matt Dillon0 (foreground) and Buck Taylor (as Newly O'Brien) from the television series 'Gunsmoke,' 1970.| Source: Getty Images. 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. They tied the knot in 1978 and lived in Brentwood, Los Angeles. James Arness married his second wife Janet Surtees in 1978 and remained together till his death. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . Janets father and brother were both pilots. James frequently donated items hed collected from the sets he worked on to charity. Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 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