Arness entered Beloit College in Wisconsin after his service discharge. 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). Primetime Emmy . His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . (AP Photo/Scott Harms) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over . Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. Located on 1,400 acres of land in Simi Valley, California, the Gunsmoke star's former ranch is owned by the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood Brentwood, Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. James wrote, I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won, and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. wid: "428986", They went horse riding and stopped at a remote camping area where other people had also settled to rest. Your email address will not be published. Both Janet and James Arness were pretty private people. Miss Blake died Wednesday night at Mercy General Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Jerri Ewen. One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. (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.) (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. Rolf was a Norwegian and his wife, Ruth was a journalist. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. Despite the separation, James still pursued his career. James Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1923 . When he was acting in a theatre in Los Angeles, a Hollywood agent spotted him and linked him toDore Schary, who gave him a few roles in 1947. The fans wanted to see more obvious indications of their relationship, but. What Happened To Patty Duke? And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. Jeremiah Green Cause of Death: Jeremiah Green left Modest Mouse when? Moreover, James attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. But Janet was hesitant at first. And shes an avid humanitarian. 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. On the other hand, Craig pursued photography and became an official photographer for National Geographic. James Arness with his first wife Virginia Chapman He grew up with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actor. 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. var params = d.getElementById("contentad428986").appendChild(s); 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. He was very polite and friendly.. in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. His portrayal of Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke earned him accolades and wealth for many years beyond the twenty-year run of the show. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. She was 60. At the time of his death, James was married to his second wife, Janet Surtees; the couple married in 1978. Arnesss bio stated he had 6 feet 7 inches tall. He married his wife Janet Surtees on December 16, 1978. . He eventually called her and asked her on a dinner date that led to the relationship that lasted till his death. The two spent the rest of the day horseback riding through nature and picnicking outdoors. 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). The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children.. Actor James Arness (right) with his brother, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images. However, legendary Western actor John Wayne thought he had star potential. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. He served in the United States Army for two years from 1943 to 1945. James had a rich background as he was of Norwegian, German, and English descent. He stars in the CBS television western, Gunsmoke. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. Some of the stars appearing in Gunsmoke are - Burt Reynolds, Ken Curtis, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, and James Arness. These include "Wyoming Mail," "Two Lost Worlds," "The People Against O'Hara," "Iron Man,"The Lone Hand," and "Island in the Sky," among many others. As of June 3, 2011, James Arnesss life had ended at the age of 88. Arness and Surtees were married from 1978 to up until his death in 2011. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television James "Jim" Arness And Wife Janet Pose For A Photograph In Their Garden In 1995 In Brentwood, Ca. He was born on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. However, in 1963, James Arness divorced Virginia Chapman. Here is a look at his life and career. But there was one person in particular that James wanted to thank most his wife, Janet. But, his role as Zeb Macahan in "How The West Was Won" sealed him as a television icon in the United States and Europe. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. 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. Sierra McClain. Arness portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". Heres what we do know. })(document); Virginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. Since they set up another dinner date, it became the start of their lifelong journey together as a couple. He was interned at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. At some point, Alden's wife urged her to join them for dinner since James would also be there. Janet Surtees Arness is. Likely, they were also blessed with a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. Arness initially had difficulty juggling a booming career in entertainment with his home life, which resulted in some issues. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. So, even after 33 years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the Hollywood actors wife. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America, and at the moment of his death, Garner was 86 years old. James Arness' role as Marshal Matt Dillon made him an iconic hero to millions all over the world. 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. He pursued acting as a profession, but most leading males refused to work with him due to his towering stature. Arness had a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Despite spending more than a decade together, the couple never shared any children. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet laughing. He had three children over the course of his lifetime - Craig, Rolf, and Jenny. But Janet refused. 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). We just started talking, and he was a skier, and I was into skiing.". He briefly attended Beloit College in Wisconsin before his service with the United States. The two met during the last season of Gunsmoke. Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. His nationality is American. The actor died in his sleep at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer. Chapman. Let's have a look at the details of his death, his multiple married life, his numerous children, as well as the loved ones he lost. She grew up with her siblings Rolf Aurness and Craig Aurness who was adopted. Arness was a respected soldier of World War II. At first, Janet was skeptical about meeting James, a television star, but since her son was a fan of his, she tried and took that leap of fate. It aired for 20 seasons and made him and other actors in it world-famous. 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. Then he is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. James frequently donated items hed collected from the sets he worked on to charity. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. Nothing happened for three months. James starred alongside huge TV legends likeEva Marie Saint,Fionnula Flanagan,Bruce Boxleitner, andRichard Kiley. After their divorce, his father James was granted legal custody of the children. And it was great. Their marriage lasted 15 years until they divorced in 1963. From 1955 to 1975, he starred in the weekly series "Gunsmoke." However, their first date took an odd turn when they saw an advertisement for Gunsmoke that featured Matt and Miss Kitty. var qs = Object.keys(params).reduce(function(a, k){ a.push(k + '=' + encodeURIComponent(params[k])); return a},[]).join(String.fromCharCode(38)); Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. He didn't remarry for 18 whole years until Janet Surtees came along. 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. In 1978, James Arness married Janet Surtees and she remained with him before his death. ', Your email address will not be published. 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. Their mother cultivated a love for arts in the two boys, who had a three-year age gap between them. However, James was a friendly giant. He also became the adoptive father to Virginia's son Craig. But Janet was hesitant at first. James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. However, the couple split in 1963 for reasons that were not known. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. 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.. In 1978, James and Janet tied the knot at a wedding in Brentwood, Los Angeles wedding. But the Gunsmoke star married the next woman he met after his split from Brand. He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. Moreover, his ethnicity is Mixed(German and Norwegian). Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. What Is Sage Stallone Cause Of Death, And What We Need To Know About Sage Stallones Career? Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. Late actor James Drury was wed three times, but the love of his life will always be his third wife, Carl Ann Drury. In 1948, a few years before the premiere of Gunsmoke on television, Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman. Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. Both James and Janet had children from previous marriages. 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. She wasnt sure how she felt about meeting, and possibly dating, a big-time Hollywood star. 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. The series ran for two decades from 1955 to 1975. James Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. 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. 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. He graduated high school in June 1942, despite being a poor student and skipping classes. Arness is immortal in TV history as Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, the longest-running network. Here is a look at his life and career. That was a big factor.,
One was named Craig, a photographer, while the other, Jenny, was an actress and they died in 2004 and 1975 respectively. Arness' 20-year, prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . Then he didnt call for three months. He first shared wedding vows withVirginia Chapman in 1948. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. However, Arness was eventually pulled back to Gunsmoke, starring in five made-for-TV movies between 1987 and 1993. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. 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. 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.". 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. 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. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. He died on 3rd June 2011 of natural causes. 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. The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. James Arness married his second wife Janet Surtees in 1978 and remained together till his death. 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James Arness - Net Worth 2022 Being a well-celebrated actor of his time, James had made a pretty good amount of wealth. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. His birth date ison May 26, 1923. Luckily, their first date was memorable enough that, when he did finally call, Janet answered and accepted a second date offer. 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. Strictly Weddings. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. James Arness was born as James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. 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 . (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (function(d) { The whole package just came together.. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. James and Janet lived happily, even after his stint as Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke" and his movies. "Tell Gregg I love him," were the last words Jenny wrote in a death note with a a cop at the Malibu, Calif., scene . James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. ne Mans Justice, a made-for-TV movie, featuring (from top) Bruce Boxleitner (as Davis Healy) and James Arness (as Matt Dillon). 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. Arness might be known for Gunsmoke, but that was hardly the only thing he did. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Your health is important to us. All information on this site is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information. He was 88. And here comes this huge man through the door, I was like, oh my gosh. Graves had an elder brother, James Arness, who was also an actor. Arness' remained with his second wife until his death in 2011. Your email address will not be published. His former wife Virginia also died of a drug overdose in 1977. He met her four yearsafter his divorce fromChapman and dated herfor six years. In addition, he was married to his wife,Daphne, and had two children, Holly and Brian. He also played the title character in The Thing From Another World and starred in Them! 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. In my case, pictures like that simply want to take advantage of the Matt Dillon reputation, which is exactly what I dont want. As of 2022, James Arnesss net worth was $10 million. She survived him. 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 could rest easy knowing that he will forever be associated with the Wild West thanks to the shows lasting rerun success. Image date July 23, 1955.| Source: Getty Images. I had been in about four pictures for his company with him. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. Arness was born on May 26, 1923, and he was 88 years old at the time of his death. Depp Net Worth 2022: How Many Times Depp Divorced? There was a high rumor about a long-term relationship between James Arness and actress, Thordis Brandt, but they never get married. However, StrictlyWeddings.com is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. She was nervous about having dinner with the actor, but they ended up getting along great. During theBattle of Anzio, he was severely wounded in his right leg. All Rights Reserved. James Arness was married twice in his life. He also has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In the 1940s, he married Dorothy Gillooly (19262012), who had served in the Women's Army Corps. Moreover, he was a photographer for National Geographic. 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. Following those events,Arness divorced her in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years. Gunsmoke: Meet Marshal Matt Dillon Actor James Arness Second Wife Janet Surtees. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). 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. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman in 1948, and then to Janet Surtees in 1978. And here comes this huge man through the door. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Years later, after being a veteran at the top of his prime, James acted on his kept passion acting. 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. { Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. After the separation, Arness got legalcustody of their children. However, after one magical date, James didnt call Janet for three months! His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. 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. After Being Caught For A Previous Crime, A Person Suspected Of Stealing Is Charged. James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. They were last married in 1978 to Janet Surtees. Is There Anything Tom Cruise Wont Do For A Mission: Impossible Stunt?! He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. He is best remembered for his role of 'Marshal Matt Dillon' in the long-running television Western Gunsmoke (1955 to 1975). Jim Backus. However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975 and 1977, respectively the..., United States Army for two decades from 1955 to 1975 in it world-famous in them t remarry 18... Passion acting the Sea Chase shows lasting rerun success on June 3,,. Last married in 1978 led to the relationship that lasted till his death in 2011 his father a... 1987 and 1993, 1952 a long-term relationship between James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who over., 1952 and actress, Thordis Brandt, but here comes this man. 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