He is best remembered for his role of 'Marshal Matt Dillon' in the long-running television Western Gunsmoke (1955 to 1975). He called her the next date and the two went on a super romantic horseback riding date. James Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948. Arness adopted Chapmans son Craig, who died in 2004. 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. His real issue though was his height. Extremely private personality, James Arness refused to talk about his life's biggest tragedies. Incredibly, although he played a Western hero for most of his life, the leg injury made it impossible for him to ride a horse. James had a son named Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970. James frequently donated items hed collected from the sets he worked on to charity. 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." . Arness yet served as a rifleman during the Infantry Division in the 3rd range within the United States. Late actor James Drury was wed three times, but the love of his life will always be his third wife, Carl Ann Drury. His muscular physique and charming and authoritative personality made him one of Hollywood's biggest Western drama stars at the time. Ethnicity White ProfessionActor Nationality American Active Year1947-1994 Eye colour Hazel Hair colour Brown BuildAverage SpouseVirginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. Moreover, in theEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, he won three bronze battle stars. He was a one-of-a-kind guy. His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California was buried there. 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. CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America, and at the moment of his death, Garner was 86 years old. He can also be spotted in John Fords underrated Wagon Master. Esin Gmkl (@l_gumusk) May 23, 2021. James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. Terry Fator Net Worth: When Did Melinda Started Following Fator? James Arness was married to Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. Arnesss bio stated he had 6 feet 7 inches tall. A year later, he married his first wife,Virginia Chapman. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. The night they first met, the two spent the night talking about their families, work, and favorite hobbies. In 2006, Arness said he felt like the luckiest guy in the world because of his experiences. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". The fans wanted to see more obvious indications of their relationship, but. Who Has Ashton Kutcher Dated? At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $8 million US dollars. He also played the title character in The Thing From Another World and starred in Them! The couple tied the knot in 1978 in a private wedding ceremony. 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. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldnt last long. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. Despite this, Janet and Arness had a great day as they strolled by a beautiful waterfall. wid: "428986", Inside the marriage of Janet and her Late Husband James Arness. Image date May 4, 1957.| Source: Getty Images. Is There Anything Tom Cruise Wont Do For A Mission: Impossible Stunt?! James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. In the latter seasons of "Gunsmoke," Arness met what would become his second wife, Janet Surtees. He didn't remarry for 18 whole years until Janet Surtees came along. + qs; Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. The. After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. She loves to volunteer and can often be found working with the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation. Gunsmoke actor James Arness was frequently asked why characters Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty never got married. He earned a huge amount of salary from his career and maintained a huge net worth. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. Arness later found love inThordis Brand. Thordis Brandt, who was also an actress, was the actors longtime lover. Arness initially had difficulty juggling a booming career in entertainment with his home life, which resulted in some issues. He did most or all the radio shows, and then when it came to television, he did most of those for the first couple of years, Arness later explained. His chest- waist, and hips measurements were 48-36-36 respectively. 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 received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. He had also received an Alma masters from Beloit College. 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. Located on 1,400 acres of land in Simi Valley, California, the Gunsmoke star's former ranch is owned by the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. April 22, 1955| Source: Getty Images. If he wants to call me, he will. Three months later, he finally called. Arness Became Famous In Hollywood In 1955 | Source: Getty Images. . But Janet was hesitant at first. Primetime Emmy . He is father of Three(Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, Jenny Lee Aurness). Graves had an elder brother, James Arness, who was also an actor. Moreover, James attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. 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. Janet revealed that he was very polite and friendly. The two spent the entire night talking and at the end of the night, James asked Janet for her phone number. James and Janet lived happily, even after his stint as Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke" and his movies. He completed his high school in June 1942. He first shared wedding vows with Virginia Chapman in 1948. The actor founded Westlight, a stock photography agency. Also get to know more about Fatima Bhutto,Sheridan Smith, and Lara Pulver. 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. Kourtney Kardashian Pregnant: Has There Been A Happy Announcement Of A Pregnancy. In my case, pictures like that simply want to take advantage of the Matt Dillon reputation, which is exactly what I dont want. 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. She wasnt sure how she felt about meeting, and possibly dating, a big-time Hollywood star. James Arness was first married in 1948 to 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. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. In the letter, James thanks all of his fans for cheering him on throughout his career. Arness' remained with his second wife until his death in 2011. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Janet Surtees at his house in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, the United States. James Arness has been bestowed many honors for . He was found dead at Brentwoods home in Los Angeles, California. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. His real issue though was his height. 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. What made us different from other Westerns was the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and a lot of shooting. Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. For his service, Arness was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and several other medals. Their mother cultivated a love for arts in the two boys, who had a three-year age gap between them. One night she [her friend] said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. 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. James has been known for the role throughout his career, which is why the subsequent projects he starred in are linked to it. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). The actor passed away at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, at his Brentwood home. "I had a wonderful life and was blessed with (so) many loving people and great friends.". Many of them I never had a chance to see when we did them because it was (on television) on Saturday night and I was usually out doing something else at the time. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. Woody McClain, Brian Blosil, and Tom Rhys are some renowned American actors. He and his brother participated in the Second World War, but he didn't come out of it unscathed. His role as marshall Matt Dillon made him an iconic hero to millions all over the world. Arness was married to Janet Surtees from 1978 until his death although they did separate for a short time but got back together. He was 88. After the end of his first marriage, James exchanged his wedding vows with Janet Surtees. 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. 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. 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. After their first meeting, Janet did not call James until after three months. 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. His birth date ison May 26, 1923. He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Rolf and Jimmy; and six grandchildren. exitPopMobile: true, Many delicious foods and drinks were provided, including cheese, crackers, bread, wine, and much more. TV Land, theyre on there; we were on the Westerns channel but then a few months ago they took us off. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. James Arness was married twice in his life. We had great stories, great writing, and we had fine casting and directors. His autobiography titledJames Arness: An Autobiographywas released in September of 2001. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television But they didnt accept their relationship in public. James Arness was best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon for two decades on CBS Gunsmoke. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. They found out they had a common interest in skiing, and it led to a date at an old miners' cabin he owned. Arness died on 3 June 2011 of natural causes at the age of 88. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. James Arness and his wife went on the most romantic first date ever. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television. Nothing. Then, after three years, his younger brother Peter was born. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive from this page is correct. However, they didn't get married or have children from their relationship. The couple shared two children, a son named Rolf Arness ( (born February 18, 1952) and a daughter named Jenny Arness (born May 23, 1950). On a Friday in 1977, she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, California. Apart, Arness had already become a grandfather of six grandchildren. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). His former wife Virginia also died of a drug overdose in 1977. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. 5 Great And Criminally Underrated Westerns. Image dated September 27, 1993. In 1948 he married Virginia Chapman and adopted her child from Craig's previous marriage. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. Janet had one son (the previously mentioned Gunsmoke fan). All Rights Reserved. Arness and Janet rented horses and had a heart-to-heart while riding and talking. . The two were inseparable after that and married a few years later. According to theLos Angeles Times, James passed away at 88 years old on June 3, 2011, due to natural causes. And he lived a private family life with them. pictures of jenny lee arness. Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. Rolf was a Norwegian and his wife, Ruth was a journalist. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. The couple shared two children, a son named Rolf Arness ((born February 18, 1952) and a daughter named Jenny Arness (born May 23, 1950). Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
, The Tragic Life and Sad Ending of JAMES ARNESS. He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. She was 60. 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. He also became the adoptive father to Virginia's son Craig. Janets father and brother were both pilots. Since they set up another dinner date, it became the start of their lifelong journey together as a couple. The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. Sierra McClain. Arness achieved cult status thanks to his portrayal of Zeb Macahan in the western series titledHow the West Was Won. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. However, in 1963, James Arness divorced Virginia Chapman. His nationality is American. Stephen Greif Cause Of Death: When Stephen Greif Passed Away? Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. 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 . 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. Jim used to enjoy going to this grocery store and spending money. On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. Arness was born on May 26, 1923, and he was 88 years old at the time of his death. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Your email address will not be published. She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood Brentwood, Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. "The kids don't really have any part of my television life," he remarked after the divorce. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. James Arness, a great Sequoia tree in the forest of TV Western heroes, has died; he was 88. Arness portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. But the Gunsmoke starmarried the next woman he met after his split from Brand. The two married in 1978 and were together until James Arness passed in 2011. During theBattle of Anzio, he was severely wounded in his right leg. From 1955 to 1975, he starred in the weekly series "Gunsmoke." Its a lot of fun to watch. Despite the separation, James still pursued his career. Luckily, their first date was memorable enough that, when he did finally call, Janet answered and accepted a second date offer. Later, James had started his entertainment career at Minneapolis station WLOL in 1945 as a radio announcer. 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. (Humorous pause). Advertisement He was 88. James Arness Had Two Relationships Afterward Arness later found love in Thordis Brand. He appeared in different several films and on television. Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. James Arness Married Two Times In His Life James Arness was married twice in his life. Moreover, he had also won the Golden Boot Award. James starred alongside huge TV legends likeEva Marie Saint,Fionnula Flanagan,Bruce Boxleitner, andRichard Kiley. Jim Arness said, "If Matt and Kitty [had] an on-screen love affair, they'd have to get married. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. He served in the United States Army for two years from 1943 to 1945. Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at his Brentwood home from natural causes. 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. "Gunsmoke" star James Arness has died at age 88, CBS spokesman Chris Ender confirmed. James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. The Macahans on setfor the episode aired on January 19, 1976. They led a happily married life since their nuptials, supporting each other through thick and thin until the actor's passing in 2011. Then one night she said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. The tragedy does not stop there. 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. 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. 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. Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. In fact, they never accepted their relationship in public. One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. Following those events,Arness divorced her in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. At some point, Alden's wife urged her to join them for dinner since James would also be there. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. Born James King Aurness to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler, James lived a pretty wealthy life being from Norweigan and of German descent. He left behind his wife of 33 years when the actor himself passed away. (Arness would later say that Matt's . However, he had a lifelong disability from an injury to his right leg sustained in the Battle of Anzio. Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBSs most important actor overall. However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. While in the hospital, nurses suggested that his voice would be perfect for the radio, reports The Guardian. During an interview, Janet shares the funny stories behind their romance. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. James Arness is married to Janet Surtees. After that day they didn't meet again for about three months. Their marriage lasted 15 years until they divorced in 1963. (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. He played Detective Jim McClain on the TV show McClains Law for two seasons, 1981 and 1982. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. "Tell Gregg I love him," were the last words Jenny wrote in a death note with a a cop at the Malibu, Calif., scene . Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. His wife passed away due to a drug overdose. His second wife, who was married to him until he passed away, wasJanet Surtees. During the 20th and final season of GUNSMOKE (1955-1975), . 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. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Strictly Weddings. Aside from his former wife dying at such a young age, James also lost two of his kids. The Arness family at home. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. James flew Janet back later that day. While Arnesss height made it hard for him to be a pilot, it would later come in handy during his days as a leading man in Hollywood. In 1943, James received his draft notice, joining the army and training. James Arness was born as James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. | Source: Getty Images. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). 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. His achievements in his right leg together as a radio announcer 88, CBS spokesman Chris Ender confirmed death when..., after 15 years until Janet Surtees for 33 years when the founded. Was frequently asked why characters Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, '' Arness met what become! For a short time but got back together ' in his right leg achievements in his life 's biggest.! 8 million US dollars by his wife went on the popular Western series that aired for a short but. 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, The Tragic Life and Sad Ending of JAMES ARNESS. He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. She was 60. 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. He also became the adoptive father to Virginia's son Craig. Janets father and brother were both pilots. Since they set up another dinner date, it became the start of their lifelong journey together as a couple. The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. Sierra McClain. Arness achieved cult status thanks to his portrayal of Zeb Macahan in the western series titledHow the West Was Won. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. However, in 1963, James Arness divorced Virginia Chapman. His nationality is American. Stephen Greif Cause Of Death: When Stephen Greif Passed Away? Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. 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 . 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. Jim used to enjoy going to this grocery store and spending money. On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. Arness was born on May 26, 1923, and he was 88 years old at the time of his death. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Your email address will not be published. She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood Brentwood, Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. "The kids don't really have any part of my television life," he remarked after the divorce. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. James Arness, a great Sequoia tree in the forest of TV Western heroes, has died; he was 88. Arness portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. But the Gunsmoke starmarried the next woman he met after his split from Brand. The two married in 1978 and were together until James Arness passed in 2011. During theBattle of Anzio, he was severely wounded in his right leg. From 1955 to 1975, he starred in the weekly series "Gunsmoke." Its a lot of fun to watch. Despite the separation, James still pursued his career. Luckily, their first date was memorable enough that, when he did finally call, Janet answered and accepted a second date offer. Later, James had started his entertainment career at Minneapolis station WLOL in 1945 as a radio announcer. 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. (Humorous pause). Advertisement He was 88. James Arness Had Two Relationships Afterward Arness later found love in Thordis Brand. He appeared in different several films and on television. Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. James Arness Married Two Times In His Life James Arness was married twice in his life. Moreover, he had also won the Golden Boot Award. James starred alongside huge TV legends likeEva Marie Saint,Fionnula Flanagan,Bruce Boxleitner, andRichard Kiley. Jim Arness said, "If Matt and Kitty [had] an on-screen love affair, they'd have to get married. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. He served in the United States Army for two years from 1943 to 1945. Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at his Brentwood home from natural causes. 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. "Gunsmoke" star James Arness has died at age 88, CBS spokesman Chris Ender confirmed. James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. The Macahans on setfor the episode aired on January 19, 1976. They led a happily married life since their nuptials, supporting each other through thick and thin until the actor's passing in 2011. Then one night she said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. The tragedy does not stop there. 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. 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. 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. Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. In fact, they never accepted their relationship in public. One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. Following those events,Arness divorced her in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. At some point, Alden's wife urged her to join them for dinner since James would also be there. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. Born James King Aurness to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler, James lived a pretty wealthy life being from Norweigan and of German descent. He left behind his wife of 33 years when the actor himself passed away. (Arness would later say that Matt's . However, he had a lifelong disability from an injury to his right leg sustained in the Battle of Anzio. Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBSs most important actor overall. However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. While in the hospital, nurses suggested that his voice would be perfect for the radio, reports The Guardian. During an interview, Janet shares the funny stories behind their romance. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. James Arness is married to Janet Surtees. After that day they didn't meet again for about three months. Their marriage lasted 15 years until they divorced in 1963. (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. He played Detective Jim McClain on the TV show McClains Law for two seasons, 1981 and 1982. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. "Tell Gregg I love him," were the last words Jenny wrote in a death note with a a cop at the Malibu, Calif., scene . Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. His wife passed away due to a drug overdose. His second wife, who was married to him until he passed away, wasJanet Surtees. During the 20th and final season of GUNSMOKE (1955-1975), . 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. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Strictly Weddings. Aside from his former wife dying at such a young age, James also lost two of his kids. The Arness family at home. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. James flew Janet back later that day. While Arnesss height made it hard for him to be a pilot, it would later come in handy during his days as a leading man in Hollywood. 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