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 . I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet. And here comes this huge man through the door, I was like, oh my gosh. So, just like her husband, Janet continuously finds ways to give back. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television He was 88. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. His muscular physique and charming and authoritative personality made him one of Hollywood's biggest Western drama stars at the time. Miss Blake died Wednesday night at Mercy General Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Jerri Ewen. JAMES MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE, AND TOGETHER THEY WELCOMED THREE KIDS, Virginia Arness and James Arness at home. Who Has Ashton Kutcher Dated? Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. In the letter, James wanted to take his time to thank all his fans of Gunsmoke,The Thing, How the West Was Won as well as all the other projects he was lucky to be part of. That was a big factor.,
Arness was born to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and writer Ruth Duesler on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jim used to enjoy going to this grocery store and spending money. exitPopMobile: true, James Arness with his first wife Virginia Chapman 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. Through their marital relationship, the couple had four children Rolf Arness, Craig Arness, Jim Arness, and Jenny Lee Arness. What made us different from other Westerns was the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and a lot of shooting. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. + qs; It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. He and his brother participated in the Second World War, but he didn't come out of it unscathed. Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. Thordis Brandt, who was also an actress, was the actors longtime lover. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. He had a son, Rolf, and daughter, Jenny, with Chapman. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. He was 88. The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. James had a son named Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. He appeared in different several films and on television. Arness Became Famous In Hollywood In 1955 | Source: Getty Images. 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. But fate stepped in. Advertisement He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. 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. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. 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. He died at the age of 88. (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at the age of 88 in Brentwood, California. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. At that time, a life-size billboard depicting Jim smoking stood in the marketplace. James Arness was born as James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. James Arness' second marriage was to a woman called Janet Surtees. How The Actor Died. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
, The Tragic Life and Sad Ending of JAMES ARNESS. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978). His fathers name is Rolf Virkler Aurness who was from Norway. His role in the popular TV seriesGunsmokeskyrocketed his fame. wid: "428986", In 1978, James and Janet tied the knot at a wedding in Brentwood, Los Angeles wedding. Required fields are marked *. When Arnesss entertainment career took off, he struggled to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. Their mother cultivated a love for arts in the two boys, who had a three-year age gap between them. Isn't James and Janet's relationship adorable? He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Your email address will not be published. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. 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.". 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. 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. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. Are you a James Arness fan? In the 1940s, he married Dorothy Gillooly (19262012), who had served in the Women's Army Corps. 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 . Additionally, the only source of his earning was his acting career. What Happened To Patty Duke? He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Rolf and Jimmy; and six grandchildren. So, basically, the most romantic date ever. Of course, she was charmed by his politeness and friendliness, so they got to talking. Despite having a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter, Arnesss dream came to the end because of his eyesight problem. Then there was a knock at the door. 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 and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. During the 20th . He can also be spotted in John Fords underrated Wagon Master. Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. Janet was working for a clothing store owned by the wife of Jims make-up artist. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. Stephen Greif Cause Of Death: When Stephen Greif Passed Away? He is a big guy, and He was very polite," sherecallsof meeting James. He went to John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. James Arness doesnt seem to be active on different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Who is the woman who captured the heart of the 67 tall actor, James Arness? In 1978, James Arness married Janet Surtees and she remained with him before his death. After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. 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. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. 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. Her mother Virginia died of a drug overdose in 1977. Depp Net Worth 2022: How Many Times Depp Divorced? The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. So, Janet went to dinner simply so she could tell her son that she met James Arness. After the separation, Arness got legalcustody of their children. 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. They had tied the knot in 1948. Chapman. James frequently donated items hed collected from the sets he worked on to charity. 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. You are and always have been truly appreciated.. Janet arrived before Jim and nervously waited for him to arrive. Your email address will not be published. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television. In addition, he was married to his wife,Daphne, and had two children, Holly and Brian. Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. Arness is immortal in TV history as Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, the longest-running network. But Janet was hesitant at first. There is a longstanding rumor that John Wayne was considered for the part of Matt Dillon, but he turned it down. Other than that, there is no controversy surrounding him. 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. In 1960, he had a star placed in honor of him at 1751 Vine Street on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also played the title character in The Thing From Another World and starred in Them! Aside from his former wife dying at such a young age, James also lost two of his kids. During an interview, Janet shares the funny stories behind their romance. cb: (new Date()).getTime() However, they didn't get married or have children from their relationship. He was 88. James Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948. 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. "The kids don't really have any part of my television life," he remarked after the divorce. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. And it was the work they did with local Jewish youth that motivated Arness to donate the property in the first place. The $8 million net worth of American actor James Arness. 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. "They said they had to keep Matt independent." Wayne was still making box office hits at the time anyway, so it would have been a shocker for him to take a lead part in the then-nascent world of television. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. He played Detective Jim McClain on the TV show McClains Law for two seasons, 1981 and 1982. One night she [her friend] said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. Tulsa Kings Sylvester Stallone Based His Dwight Performance On Himself (Even Some After Tweaks), Watch Sam Elliotts Emotional Tribute To His 1883 Castmates, Clint Eastwood Choked Down Vile Cigars For The Sake Of A Fistful Of Dollars, How Clint Eastwood Really Spends His Enormous Fortune, Sam Elliott Is Right 1883s Shea & Thomas NEED A Prequel, Kevin Costners Yellowstone Tension: A Full Breakdown, 1923 Star Brandon Sklenar Saw A Ghost While Filming The Finale On The Queen Mary: Its Pretty Wild, Forrie J. Smith Says Lloyd Being Punished By Rip Made Some Fans Consider Quitting Yellowstone, Yellowstones Cole Hauser Inks New Deal To Become Face Of PBR, Lonesome Dove: 5 Things You Didnt Know About the Iconic Series. . She survived him. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. James Arness was married to 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. His real issue though was his height. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). Likely, they were also blessed with a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. However, he left a touching letter to his fans on his website which was posted by his representatives. Many delicious foods and drinks were provided, including cheese, crackers, bread, wine, and much more. In 1987, he played the same character in the television film "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge." He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And here comes this huge man through the door. Their longest marriage was 33 years to Janet Surtees. James has been known for the role throughout his career, which is why the subsequent projects he starred in are linked to it. There was a high rumor about a long-term relationship between James Arness and actress, Thordis Brandt, but they never get married. 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. He didn't remarry for 18 whole years until Janet Surtees came along. 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. s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" He had blue-colored eyes and blonde-colored hair. Jamess make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. Woody McClain, Brian Blosil, and Tom Rhys are some renowned American actors. "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. Heres what we do know. Sierra McClain. Arness initially had difficulty juggling a booming career in entertainment with his home life, which resulted in some issues. James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. 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 had warned her he would be away for a few weeks but that he would reach out upon his return. in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. James Arness poses with his wife Janet during a signing of his new book "James Arness: An Autobiography" at the Gene Autry Museum November 3, 2001 | Source: Getty Images. He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood Brentwood, Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. Image dated September 27, 1993. However, their first date took an odd turn when they saw an advertisement for Gunsmoke that featured Matt and Miss Kitty. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. actorPeter Graves. James Arness was divorced from Extremely private personality, James Arness refused to talk about his life's biggest tragedies. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. Then he didnt call for three months. 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. How many times has James Arness been married? His wife passed away due to a drug overdose. A year later, he married his first wife,Virginia Chapman. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. 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. d.getElementById("contentad428986").appendChild(s); His younger brother Peter Greaves used the stage name "Graves" which was a maternal family name. 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. While in the hospital, nurses suggested that his voice would be perfect for the radio, reports The Guardian. Disclaimer: All content is provided for fun and entertainment purposes only. Despite spending more than a decade together, the couple never shared any children. 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. (AP Photo/Scott Harms) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over . Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive from this page is correct. He had also received an Alma masters from Beloit College. He used to reside in a million dollars house in Los Angeles, California. After that day they didn't meet again for about three months. var p = 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? 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. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. If he wants to call me, he will. Three months later, he finally called. The two were inseparable after that and married a few years later. James Arness net worth: James Arness was an American actor who had a net worth of $8 million. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. And then it'd be a different show." "They'd say that would ruin it," Byrnes confirms. Years later, after being a veteran at the top of his prime, James acted on his kept passion acting. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978) They were character study shows, Arness once told the Associated Press. His unexpected act of generosity left a lasting impression on her. Peter Graves, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother. 20 Things You Didnt Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Gunsmoke: James Arness Called Wife Best Part of My Life. He married his wife Janet Surtees on December 16, 1978. . CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). 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. 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.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 letter, James thanks all of his fans for cheering him on throughout his career. His chest- waist, and hips measurements were 48-36-36 respectively. James "Jim" Arness And Wife Janet Pose For A Photograph In Their Garden In 1995 In Brentwood, Ca. On June 3, 2011, he died of natural causes. The Arness family at home. 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. Gunsmoke originated as a radio drama series in 1952 and was translated to television three years later, in 1955. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). He grew up with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actor. Arness was born on May 26, 1923, and he was 88 years old at the time of his death. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. She died in 1977 from a drug overdose, following her daughter's death two years prior on the same cause. In 1943, James received his draft notice, joining the army and training. Yet, they went their separate ways in the end. She was 56 years old at the time of her death. Arness career began in 1947 when he played one of Loretta Youngs brothers in The Farmers Daughter. Make-Up artist on the Hollywood Walk of fame School, Washburn High,. 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