Managed by: Remi Trygve Pedersen: Last . It takes a special kind of lawman to carry on for 20 years in the Wild West of TV. Outsider reports an old family friend of Arness' to have said of the celebrated actor: "He could compartmentalize both his family life and his famous work career.". It is Arness fans have to thank for making Dillon the iconic Western character that he still is decades after the original run of Gunsmoke ended. By Explora ` July 2, 2022 December 11, 2022. . Love it to this day. Love u Matt, My brother and I grew up watching you and still do today. Surtees's husband died on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88 in his Brentwood home in Los Angeles. After serving in the war, Arness started working in radio in Minneapolis before hitchhiking to Hollywood to pursue acting. Louis Henry shot himself and he was found by his parents in their Bel Air home. He was 88. Their marriage lasted 12 years before they called it quits and went their separate ways. Many people believe Nikki lived with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome. The father of her son, Dag Drollet, was shot and killed by her half-brother Christian in 1990. GUNSMOKE's James Arness was born on May 26, 1923. And he had a talent for the craft. Craig and Rolf Arness. His height and large bulk made a lasting impression in his role of US Marshal Matt Dillon in the television western series Gunsmoke, which Arness played for 20 years. Two years after her demise, her mom, Virginia Arness, who'd been divorced from her dad since 1963, passed on, also from a drug overdose, which was later ruled as accidental. . His work was so good that he received the Best Photo of the Year and Best Photograph Awards. Unfortunately, only 11 days to her 25th birthday, Jenny overdosed on sleeping pills and passed on in May 1975. His adopted son, Craig, died in 2004 and his daughter Jenny died in 1975. Carol Dumond Ellington, CT. Happiness is watching Gunsmoke over and over and over! He developed a career in acting, but most leading men didnt want to work with Arness because of his height. James was a very convincing actor as well as a role model for decency. Craig was married to his wife Daphne. Though we never met, you are someone very special and important to me. He played that role so good. Gone but never forgotten. God Rest his Sweet Soul and same to his beloved brother Peter. THANK YOU MARSHALL DILLON you just dont see shows on TV like that anymore !!! For James Arness, he would eventually put up a great divide between his acting life and his personal life. The Gunsmoke stars son, Rolf, also had a health scare during his life. He had three children, Rolf, Craig and Jenny Lee Arness. "Thanks for the memories!!! Therefore, he had a part to play in convincing Arness to take the role of Matt on Gunsmoke, which was the most significant work of his career. She, unfortunately, died of cancer in 1978. He was 88. Before his death, he wrote a letter to his fans and asked his wife to post it on his website after his death. At 72 I still watch Gunsmoke everyday. His father, a businessman, was of Norwegian origin, his mother, a journalist, had German ancestry. The world needs more of this. He deserved better. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. James Arness/Cause of death James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the strong and commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV . Loving Child of God Om Guru. In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. James Arness, who has died aged 88, may not have been the biggest film star ever, but he was certainly one of the tallest, at 6ft 7in. The couple divorced in . 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Actor Robert Taylor lost his battle with cancer in 1969, but lost his stepson Michael Theiss in 1968 due to suicide. At last, the 20th Season is available on DVD, so I remember you with much affection and admiration. Her death took place in May of 1975. James Arness as U.S. Gunsmoke was the longest-running primetime television drama in television history, tied with the original Law & Order, until Law & Order: Special Victims Unit broke the record when its 21st season debuted . The son ofGregory Peck, news reporter Jonathan Peck, committed suicide in 1975 by shooting himself. It was rumored that Arness was struggling due to a breakup with Greg Allman and she took a lethal dose of pills. (CBS) James Arness, the tall, iconic actor best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running television series "Gunsmoke," has died. Scott Newman, the son of Paul Newman, committed suicide in 1978 at the age of 28. Daughter of --James Arness and --Virginia Chapman. To his family I still enjoy the re-runs and watch them daily. When the US entered the second world war, he wanted to become a navy pilot, but his height disqualified him. James Arness played Marshal Matt Dillon for a good 20 years on the CBS show "Gunsmoke." My grandparents & mother also watched his shows thank you for keeping it on Regular TV Thank you James/Matt for allowing some great memories with my Opa! 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. Arness adopted Chapmans son Craig, who died in 2004. James King Arness (May 26, 1923 - June 3, 2011) was an American actor. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. This company was a stock photography service. Gunsmoke originated as a radio drama series in 1952 and was translated to television three years later, in 1955. I want major pictures and I dont care if its not the leading role.. He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. Actor Louis Jourdan lost his only child, Louis Henry Jourdan to suicide in 1981. Posted in Uncategorized. Arness adopted Chapman's son Craig, who died in 2004. Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails and gifts we received from you over the years. That year, he was treated for lung issues and anemia. Death: May 12, 1975 (24) . Arness's character, in particular, sees red every time he sees a "red" because, as Wayne's voiceover explains: "My partner hates these people. Image credit: Ranker Jenny Lee Arness, the daughter of actor James Arness, committed suicide in 1975, not too long before her 25th birthday. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is. . After Gunsmoke ended in 1975, Arness played Zeb Macahan in How The West Was Won from 1977 to 1979. Even the bad guys. Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? One of the best actors ever RIP JAMES. I watch him everyday many episodes except the one with Michael Learned when she had a child & he had amnesia. In my case, pictures like that simply want to take advantage of the Matt Dillon reputation, which is exactly what I dont want. I watch Gunsmoke every day. Jenny Lee Arness was born on May 23, 1950 in Los Angeles, California, United States of America to her parents, James Arness and Virginia Chapman. Jenny Lee Arness was born on May 23, 1950 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She died on May 12, 1975 in Malibu, California. Was one person that made the show complete. He then appeared as a soldier in William Wellman's Battleground (1949), a cowboy in John Ford's Wagon Master (1950), a boxer in Iron Man (1951), the title role in The People Against O'Hara (1951), as an innocent accused of murder defended by Spencer Tracy, and one of James Stewart's brothers in Carbine Williams (1952). Her sons Shlomo and Aron Haart have appeared on the show My Unorthodox Life. Watched it as a little girl with my parents and still watch it every night on INSP. Today is the 65th anniversary of the premier of GUNSMOKE. Peter, who changed his last name to Graves, {{#isTree}}Plant Memorial Trees{{/isTree}} Four years after the divorce, Arness got into a six-year-long relationship with Thordis Brandt. Big Jim McLain (1952) was the first of four films Arness made with his close buddy John Wayne, whose rightwing ideology he shared. What a great actor he was. Use what you have. I was under contract to Dukes company for two years before Gunsmoke came along, Arness told the Signal in 2006. Required fields are marked *. Arness died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, said family spokeswoman Ginny Fazer. Love Jackie Turner Nettles Albright, I'm watching the show now. . His Matt Dillon is someone we can we all use in your lives. Been watching since I was 5 years old and now I'm 71yrs old. Still watch Gunsmoke with my Grandson in 2021. We miss you. His younger brother was the actor Peter Graves, who died last year. Arness, despite being famous in his acting career, always found time for his family. A daughter and an adopted son predeceased him. 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. Arness would live until the year 2011. James Arness, who died at the age of 88, is said to have lived . HE was perfect for the role as Matt Dillen. Trivia (4) 1. On the other side, James had two children; a son Rolf (born February 18, 1952), and a daughter Jenny Lee Arness (b May 23, 1950) from his first marriage to Virginia Chapman. I always enjoyed James. (1954), he played it straight as an FBI agent on the trail of huge mutant atomic ants, good practice for his later dealings with human beasts in Gunsmoke. He is best remembered for his role of 'Marshal Matt Dillon' in the long-running television Western "Gunsmoke" (1955 to 1975). He died from natural causes. Rolf is the son of actor James Arness and Virginia Chapman. Read More Elaine Fisher Husband, Net Worth, Age, Father, Pastor, FamilyContinue. All you need to know about James Arness, an American actor best known for his role in CBS series Gunsmoke. Arness adopted Chapman's son Craig, who died in 2004. "Happy Trails"our beloved brother!Ride into the sunset with us all in mind! He died at the age of 88. She died on May 12, 1975 in Malibu, California. Wish I could have known him. In 2006, Arness said he felt like the luckiest guy in the world because of his experiences. After all, memories is what its all about!!