Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. Janet has been with him until his dying last breath. com for more 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. He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. How Did James Arness Die? Arness adopted Chapman's son Craig, who died in 2004. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. Full NameJames King Aurness Net Worth$8 Million Date of Birth26 May, 1923 NicknameJames Marital Status Married BirthplaceMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. [21] He adopted her son. James Arness was married to Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. She was a beautiful and gracious lady who had a lot to do with the success of 'Gunsmoke, series star James Arness said Thursday. Your email address will not be published. He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. There just was never anybody else like him.. After their first meeting, Janet did not call James until after three months. 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. James starred alongside huge TV legends likeEva Marie Saint,Fionnula Flanagan,Bruce Boxleitner, andRichard Kiley. While in the hospital, nurses suggested that his voice would be perfect for the radio, reports The Guardian. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBS's most important actor overall. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. Some of the stars appearing in Gunsmoke are - Burt Reynolds, Ken Curtis, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, and James Arness. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . Terry Fator Net Worth: When Did Melinda Started Following Fator? And his mothers name is Ruth Duesler who was from Germany and was a journalist by the profession. 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. 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. 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. Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. 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 . Arness' daughter Jenny committed suicide on 12th May 1975 by drug overdose. James Arness was married to Following those events,Arness divorced her in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years. But fate stepped in. James Arness was best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon for two decades on CBS Gunsmoke. Then one night she said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. Who Has Ashton Kutcher Dated? Janet still lives in Los Angeles where she lived with James before his passing, according to Celeb Suburb. Stephen Greif Cause Of Death: When Stephen Greif Passed Away? Janet worked there for seven years and grew close with the couple. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. He pursued acting as a profession, but most leading males refused to work with him due to his towering stature. A year later, he married his first wife,Virginia Chapman. 20 Things You Didnt Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Gunsmoke: James Arness Called Wife Best Part of My Life. There is a longstanding rumor that John Wayne was considered for the part of Matt Dillon, but he turned it down. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. 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. Luckily, their first date was memorable enough that, when he did finally call, Janet answered and accepted a second date offer. Since they set up another dinner date, it became the start of their lifelong journey together as a couple. Married on February 12, 1948; divorced in 1960; attempted suicide twice. She would later admit that she lost him to his work, describing him as a comet that left her lonely on earth. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. 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. Arness died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, a family spokesman said at the time. Notably, James gained massive popularity when he took on the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS Television series "Gunsmoke," a role he played for 20 years. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. Moreover, his ethnicity is Mixed(German and Norwegian). James Arness was married twice in his life. var s = d.createElement('script'); s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true; She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. 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. James Arness played law-abiding Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke (CBS, 1955-1975), the longest-running drama in television history, and became one of the most well-known actors of the 1950s through the 1970s. He tried to make ends meet by taking up menial jobs while collecting veteran benefits as he drifted towards Hollywood. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. His father, Rolf Aurness, was a businessman, while his mother, Ruth, was a journalist. 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. After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. His unexpected act of generosity left a lasting impression on her. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. He was 88. Who is the woman who captured the heart of the 67 tall actor, James Arness? Who Is Ashton Kutcher Married To? And it was great. 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). 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. 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. And here comes this huge man through the door. He first shared wedding vows with Virginia Chapman in 1948. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet laughing. He grew up with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actor. 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. When Arnesss entertainment career took off, he struggled to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. They were last married in 1978 to Janet Surtees. Apart from his iconic role in "Gunsmoke" which he reprised many times even after it ended in 1975, James played roles in television dramas like "How The West Was Won", "McClain's Law" and more . The. And then it'd be a different show." "They'd say that would ruin it," Byrnes confirms. His first marriage was to Virginia Chapman; an actress. James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. Arness wrote a letter to his fans that he asked Janet to post on his website after his passing. They were character study shows, Arness once told the Associated Press. They found out they had a common interest in skiing, and it led to a date at an old miners' cabin he owned. Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. Primetime Emmy . Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. James Arness was born as James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Moreover, He was the tallest leading man in Hollywood by the time. The two spent the rest of the day horseback riding through nature and picnicking outdoors. Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. Extremely private personality, James Arness refused to talk about his life's biggest tragedies. GUNSMOKE's James Arness was born on May 26, 1923. Also get to know more about Fatima Bhutto,Sheridan Smith, and Lara Pulver. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Gunsmoke actor James Arness died on 3rd June 2011, leaving behind a letter he wanted to be released after his death. Sadly, Chapman passed away in 1977 after a heroin overdose. Image dated September 27, 1993. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. With his second spouse, James shared four children. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. Arness escorted her somewhere alone for lunch, clearly knowing exactly where he was heading. 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. The couple got married in 1979 and they stayed together until Carl Ann died. Furthermore, James' brother, a well-known Misson: Impossible actor Peter Graves died of a heart attack on 14th March 2010. Gangsta Boo Cause of Death: Did Gangsta Boo Tie The Knot? His fathers name is Rolf Virkler Aurness who was from Norway. Their parents were businessmen and journalists. His second wife, who was married to him until he passed away, wasJanet Surtees. He is father of Three(Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, Jenny Lee Aurness). Arness and Janet rented horses and had a heart-to-heart while riding and talking. 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. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America, and at the moment of his death, Garner was 86 years old. Image date May 4, 1957.| Source: Getty Images. After Being Caught For A Previous Crime, A Person Suspected Of Stealing Is Charged. We obtain this information from publically accessible sources and endeavor to make sure it's correct. Arness was 88 years old. James flew Janet back later that day. Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. 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. Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of the tallest leading men of his era. Advertisement pictures of jenny lee arness. Jim Arness said, "If Matt and Kitty [had] an on-screen love affair, they'd have to get married. James Arness was married twice. Alden's wife worked with Janet at the time in a dress shop. That was too bad, because we were on two hours every night, seven days a week.. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. He also reprised his role in the movies that came after: "Gunsmoke: The Last Apache" in 1990, "Gunsmoke: To the Last Man" in 1992, "Gunsmoke: The Long Ride" in 1993, and "Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice" in 1994. He was very polite and friendly.. 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." . On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978). Then there was a knock at the door. Her mother Virginia died of a drug overdose in 1977. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. We had great stories, great writing, and we had fine casting and directors. Gunsmoke: Meet Marshal Matt Dillon Actor James Arness Second Wife Janet Surtees. During theBattle of Anzio, he was severely wounded in his right leg. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). 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. Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. James Arness net worth: James Arness was an American actor who had a net worth of $8 million. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. He had warned her he would be away for a few weeks but that he would reach out upon his return. He is a big guy, and He was very polite," sherecallsof meeting James. He eventually called her and asked her on a dinner date that led to the relationship that lasted till his death. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. 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. var p = 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? But Janet was hesitant at first. He was 88. Moreover, in theEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, he won three bronze battle stars. The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. (AP) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over the television . She survived him. Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. He was an infantryman and was wounded in the battle of Anzio, Italy, but his brother was posted to the Army Air Force which later became a separate branch of the U.S. military. The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. James Arness Had Two Relationships Afterward Arness later found love in Thordis Brand. Why dont you come over and meet him? Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. He often talked about watching Gunsmoke whenever he saw it on TV. Arness might be known for Gunsmoke, but that was hardly the only thing he did. Peter Graves, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother. He had one sibling, Peter Aurness, who would later become known as Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. James Arness Net Worth. Its a lot of fun to watch. 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. 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. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. This included the deaths of his daughter and ex-wife merely two years apart. 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. However, after one magical date, James didnt call Janet for three months! It was a wonderful thing. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. But there was one person in particular that James wanted to thank most his wife, Janet. Their marriage lasted 15 years until they divorced in 1963. Their longest marriage was 33 years to Janet Surtees. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (function(d) { In 1948 he married Virginia Chapman and adopted her child from Craig's previous marriage. TV Land, theyre on there; we were on the Westerns channel but then a few months ago they took us off. Both James and Janet had children from previous marriages. Required fields are marked *. During the 20th . Gunsmoke originated as a radio drama series in 1952 and was translated to television three years later, in 1955. James Arness doesnt seem to be active on different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. He amassed most of this through his long-standing Hollywood career. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960. His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California was buried there. In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. On the other hand, Craig pursued photography and became an official photographer for National Geographic. He drifted around Mexico for some time; then, he returned to Hollywood with a burning desire to become an actor. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", He also became the adoptive father to Virginia's son Craig. The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many others all featured Arness in lead roles. Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. Regarding James Arness personal life, well, the actor has been married twice. James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. Janet had one son (the previously mentioned Gunsmoke fan). And here comes this huge man through the door, I was like, oh my gosh. He earned a huge amount of salary from his career and maintained a huge net worth. April 22, 1955| Source: Getty Images. In addition, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34 movies, as well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies. And here comes this huge man through the door. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. During the 20th and final season of GUNSMOKE (1955-1975), . She loves to volunteer and can often be found working with the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation. 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. Arness Became Famous In Hollywood In 1955 | Source: Getty Images. His muscular physique and charming and authoritative personality made him one of Hollywood's biggest Western drama stars at the time. They also shared an adopted a son who Virginia Chapman had from another marriage. To make up for the lost role, an actor . But my son was a really big fan of Gunsmoke and was watching it every Monday night. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. He met Janet through his makeup artistGlen Alden'swife. So, Janet went to dinner simply so she could tell her son that she met James Arness. He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. He believed the family seen on Gunsmoke was why people kept going back to it for two decades. Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents another marriage old shows him.. their... Not call James until after three months sitting there nervously waiting, and family., great writing, and Janet rented horses and had a son, Rolf,. 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