He drifted around Mexico for some time; then, he returned to Hollywood with a burning desire to become an actor. His role in the popular TV seriesGunsmokeskyrocketed his fame. John Wayne suggested Arness for the role of Matt Dillon. The actor died in his sleep at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer. Disclaimer: All content is provided for fun and entertainment purposes only. Surtees was reluctant, but her son was a "Gunsmoke" fan, so she went just so she could tell him she had met his favorite actor. James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. 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. 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. As a young child, most of his life, James usually found it hard in his . [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. It was reported James passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles. 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 adopted Chapmans son Craig, who died in 2004. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. Strictly Weddings. Keeping this in mind, the American actor James Arness build up his profession in acting, despite having a dream to be a naval fighter pilot. Despite the separation, James still pursued his career. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. Both Janet and James Arness were pretty private people. James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. His fathers name is Rolf Virkler Aurness who was from Norway. Jim used to enjoy going to this grocery store and spending money. They had tied the knot in 1948. Arness was born to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and writer Ruth Duesler on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Arnesss bio stated he had 6 feet 7 inches tall. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. Inside the marriage of Janet and her Late Husband James Arness. Their marriage lasted 15 years until they divorced in 1963. But the Gunsmoke star married the next woman he met after his split from Brand. Moreover, in theEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, he won three bronze battle stars. Your email address will not be published. James has been known for the role throughout his career, which is why the subsequent projects he starred in are linked to it. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! As a result, he played a role in getting Arness to accept the role of Matt on Gunsmoke, the show that would prove to be the pinnacle of his career. 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 3 June 2011 of natural causes at the age of 88. 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. 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. The problem that most TV actors like myself have is that were usually offered the small type movies, where they can exploit our name and shoot it on a small financial budget, Arness said in 1962. Janet arrived before Jim and nervously waited for him to arrive. His net worth was estimated to be $8 million. He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. 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. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", "Tell Gregg I love him," were the last words Jenny wrote in a death note with a a cop at the Malibu, Calif., scene . "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". "Gunsmoke" star James Arness has died at age 88, CBS spokesman Chris Ender confirmed. Full NameJames King Aurness Net Worth$8 Million Date of Birth26 May, 1923 NicknameJames Marital Status Married BirthplaceMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Sadly, Chapman passed away in 1977 after a heroin overdose. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. Arness' remained with his second wife until his death in 2011. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. 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. He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. 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. During the 20th . But fate stepped in. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. That was too bad, because we were on two hours every night, seven days a week.. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. By the time they were finished, others had left, but their litters remained scattered around. Arnes was of American nationality and used to belongs to the white ethnicity. Jim Arness (1971), (Bettmann/contributor/getty images), James Arness, Janet (1995), (Getty Images/Staff), James Arness, Janet (2001), (David Keeler/Getty Images). James Arness Net Worth James Arness Net Worth 2023: Wiki Biography, Married, Family, Measurements, Height, Salary, Relationships . There they had food and spoke about their families. He used to reside in a million dollars house in Los Angeles, California. Celeb Couples with Huge Age Gaps Who Prove Age Is Just a Number with Love, Hoda Kotb's Fans Raise Concern over Her Cryptic Post amid Absence from 'Today' Show, John Francis Bongiovi Sr Is Jon Bon Jovi's Father Who Has Always Been Supportive of His Career, James MacArthur Called Wife of 25 Years Hard Boiled Yet Their Marriage Was Better than Anything', Inside Dick Van Dyke & Decades Younger Wifes Home Where He Shows off Routine He Says Will Get Him to 100, James Garner Became 'Greatest Father' after Adopting Wife's Child despite Being Unloved by His Stepmom. After dinner, he walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you,' said Janet. I had a wonderful life and was blessed with so many loving people and great friends. Jim Arness said, "If Matt and Kitty [had] an on-screen love affair, they'd have to get married. After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. James "Jim" Arness And Wife Janet Pose For A Photograph In Their Garden In 1995 In Brentwood, Ca. ', Your email address will not be published. And then it'd be a different show." "They'd say that would ruin it," Byrnes confirms. Janet worked there for seven years and grew close with the couple. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Thordis Brandt, who was also an actress, was the actors longtime lover. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. James Arness' second marriage was to a woman called Janet Surtees. Required fields are marked *. In 1943, James was drafted into the Navy. Terry Fator Net Worth: When Did Melinda Started Following Fator? For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. Are you a James Arness fan? 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 had an insatiable appetite. | Source: Getty Images. From 1966 to 1975, French appeared on 18 episodes of Gunsmoke. Arness had a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter. Arness was born to James Arness and Virginia Chapman. James Arness doesnt seem to be active on different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Arness portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. 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. What Happened To Patty Duke? He grew up with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actor. Peter Graves, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). The actor passed away at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, at his Brentwood home. Here is a look at his life and career. Your email address will not be published. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. . { He amassed most of this through his long-standing Hollywood career. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Actor James Arness (right) with his brother, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images. Additionally, he directed five episodes of the . Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. Patty Duke Cause Of Death? But Arness usually stated that his height was 6 feet 6 inches in the regular newspaper and TV interviews. Janet still lives in Los Angeles where she lived with James before his passing, according to Celeb Suburb. 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). Gunsmoke actor James Arness died on 3rd June 2011, leaving behind a letter he wanted to be released after his death. 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. I was under contract to Dukes company for two years before Gunsmoke came along, Arness told the Signal in 2006. cb: (new Date()).getTime() 'https' : 'http'; He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. Their longest marriage was 33 years to Janet Surtees. Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", Arness' 20-year, prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . It plagued him for the rest of his life. 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. And here comes this huge man through the door. He was 88. Arness was born James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, the son of businessman Rolf Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. The Gunsmoke family was the thing that people got used to, and (they) wanted to see that in their homes on Saturday nights, you see, he told the Signal. In the letter, James thanks all of his fans for cheering him on throughout his career. Arness career began in 1947 when he played one of Loretta Youngs brothers in The Farmers Daughter. Janet was working for a clothing store owned by the wife of Jims make-up artist. TV Land, theyre on there; we were on the Westerns channel but then a few months ago they took us off. However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. Is There Anything Tom Cruise Wont Do For A Mission: Impossible Stunt?! And here comes this huge man through the door, I was like, oh my gosh. James Arness Net Worth. [21] He adopted her son. The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many others all featured Arness in lead roles. His second wife, who was married to him until he passed away, wasJanet Surtees. Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. With his second spouse, James shared four children. At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $8 million US dollars. He was also a sensitive and loving man and husband. Copyright 2012-2023 Social Sweethearts GmbH. Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. Then one night she said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. James Arness was married twice in his life. She was 60. What made us different from other Westerns was the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and a lot of shooting. Then there was a knock at the door. However, after one magical date, James didnt call Janet for three months! Arness later found love inThordis Brand. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.. He met her four years after his divorce from Chapman and dated her for six years. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). James had a son named Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978). (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. So, basically, the most romantic date ever. But my son was a really big fan of Gunsmoke and was watching it every Monday night. James Arness was married twice. 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. Located on 1,400 acres of land in Simi Valley, California, the Gunsmoke star's former ranch is owned by the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. com for more Arness and Surtees were married from 1978 to up until his death in 2011. After their divorce, Chapman, a white woman, picked up her things and moved to San Bernadino, California an area Blacks had dominated. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. Then he didnt call for three months. 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. There is a longstanding rumor that John Wayne was considered for the part of Matt Dillon, but he turned it down. 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