"Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". Before Janet, James was married to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until 1963; the couple had three children, Rolf, Craig, and Jenny Lee, who died of suicide in 1975. (Arness would later say that Matt's . 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. He is father of Three(Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, Jenny Lee Aurness). She wasnt sure how she felt about meeting, and possibly dating, a big-time Hollywood star. 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. "Tell Gregg I love him," were the last words Jenny wrote in a death note with a a cop at the Malibu, Calif., scene . However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. When he was acting in a theatre in Los Angeles, a Hollywood agent spotted him and linked him toDore Schary, who gave him a few roles in 1947. He pursued acting as a profession, but most leading males refused to work with him due to his towering stature. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For the whole 20 years the series was on the air from 1955 until 1975, he appeared in an impressive 605 of 635 episodes, according to IMBD . As of 2023, The net worth of James Arness to be at $10 million. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman in 1948, and then to Janet Surtees in 1978. James Arness was married to But Janet refused. ne Mans Justice, a made-for-TV movie, featuring (from top) Bruce Boxleitner (as Davis Healy) and James Arness (as Matt Dillon). One night, the owner of the store invited Janet over to meet Jim. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television 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. 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). 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 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. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. Fv 27, 2023 . He stars in the CBS television western, Gunsmoke. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet with a laugh. He briefly attended Beloit College in Wisconsin before his service with the United States. According to theLos Angeles Times, James passed away at 88 years old on June 3, 2011, due to natural causes. He had blue-colored eyes and blonde-colored hair. 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. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America, and at the moment of his death, Garner was 86 years old. Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. From 1976 to 1979, Arness played on television in the role of Zeb Macahan in the series How the West Was Won. I want major pictures and I dont care if its not the leading role.. Since they set up another dinner date, it became the start of their lifelong journey together as a couple. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet laughing. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. Arness portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. Growing up, their mother instilled a love for the arts, Peter pursued it immediately, but James, it took him a lot longer before realizing it was his destiny. . One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. Then one night she said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. Primetime Emmy . The two met during the last season of Gunsmoke. And shes an avid humanitarian. They led a happily married life since their nuptials, supporting each other through thick and thin until the actor's passing in 2011. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. His performance as a quiet man with an amazing sense of justicewas appreciated by millions of fans. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). Arness yet served as a rifleman during the Infantry Division in the 3rd range within the United States. Through their marital relationship, the couple had four children Rolf Arness, Craig Arness, Jim Arness, and Jenny Lee Arness. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. Arnesss bio stated he had 6 feet 7 inches tall. Your email address will not be published. For his service, Arness was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and several other medals. There they had food and spoke about their families. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.. He was 88. As of June 3, 2011, James Arnesss life had ended at the age of 88. Some of his films include The Farmers Daughter, Roses are red, Man from Texas, Stars in My Crown, Flame of the Islands, and Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge. 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. He met Janet through his makeup artistGlen Alden'swife. His father was a vendor for surgical instruments while his mom stayed home to tend the house and raise the kids she later became a newspaper columnist, and her marriage with Rolf ended in the 40s. James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. Gunsmoke is a TV Western drama series that ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS. During an interview, Janet shares the funny stories behind their romance. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. Rolf was a Norwegian and his wife, Ruth was a journalist. 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. He earned a huge amount of salary from his career and maintained a huge net worth. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. James Arness married his second wife Janet Surtees in 1978 and remained together till his death. The big thing with the show was that we had a lot of really fine actors, and more than that, we had started out with great writing., The two gentlemen who originated the show you know, it was on the radio for two or three years before they brought it to television John Meston was the man who conceived the idea of the whole thing. Other than that, there is no controversy surrounding him. 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. But, his role as Zeb Macahan in "How The West Was Won" sealed him as a television icon in the United States and Europe. Late actor James Drury was wed three times, but the love of his life will always be his third wife, Carl Ann Drury. The whole package just came together.. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. Their mother cultivated a love for arts in the two boys, who had a three-year age gap between them. Who is the woman who captured the heart of the 67 tall actor, James Arness? Moreover, He was the tallest leading man in Hollywood by the time. Copyright 2012-2023 Social Sweethearts GmbH. After the separation, Arness got legalcustody of their children. They found out they had a common interest in skiing, and it led to a date at an old miners' cabin he owned. But the Gunsmoke starmarried the next woman he met after his split from Brand. 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.". James Arness' second marriage was to a woman called Janet Surtees. 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. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. James Arness doesnt seem to be active on different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. 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. Thordis Brandt, who was also an actress, was the actors longtime lover. James Arness was divorced from Luckily, Janet didnt hold a grudge and the two went on a second date. He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. We obtain this information from publically accessible sources and endeavor to make sure it's correct. His fathers name is Rolf Virkler Aurness who was from Norway. James "Jim" Arness And Wife Janet Pose For A Photograph In Their Garden In 1995 In Brentwood, Ca. He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. Then on December 16, 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. In the 1940s, he married Dorothy Gillooly (19262012), who had served in the Women's Army Corps. Regarding James Arness personal life, well, the actor has been married twice. All Rights Reserved. cb: (new Date()).getTime() James Arness Had Two Relationships Afterward Arness later found love in Thordis Brand. On a Friday in 1977, she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, California. James Arness was married twice. During an interview, Janet opened up about the night she met James. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. What made us different from other Westerns was the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and a lot of shooting. Extremely private personality, James Arness refused to talk about his life's biggest tragedies. His second wife, who was married to him until he passed away, wasJanet Surtees. The couple shared a son named Jim from Janet's previous relationship. In the latter seasons of "Gunsmoke," Arness met what would become his second wife, Janet Surtees. And his mothers name is Ruth Duesler who was from Germany and was a journalist by the profession. Here is a look at his life and career. And here comes this huge man through the door. After serving in the war, Arness started working in radio in Minneapolis before hitchhiking to Hollywood to pursue acting. 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. He went to John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. Then, after three years, his younger brother Peter was born. 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. Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. After their divorce, his father James was granted legal custody of the children. The couple tied the knot in 1978 in a private wedding ceremony. Then there was a knock at the door. actorPeter Graves. In reality, Wayne suggested Arness for the part and even introduced the first episode of Gunsmoke. During the 20th . 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. And then it'd be a different show." "They'd say that would ruin it," Byrnes confirms. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. GUNSMOKE's James Arness was born on May 26, 1923. He now lives a private lifein Los Angeles and regularly volunteers at a Santa Monica mental health clinic. Portrait of James Arness (portrays Marshal Matt Dillon). 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. However, the couple split in 1963 for reasons that were not known. 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. Moreover, in theEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, he won three bronze battle stars. Additionally, he directed five episodes of the . The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. Heres what we do know. 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. CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. TV Land, theyre on there; we were on the Westerns channel but then a few months ago they took us off. They were last married in 1978 to Janet Surtees. He had warned her he would be away for a few weeks but that he would reach out upon his return. At that time, a life-size billboard depicting Jim smoking stood in the marketplace. In 1943, James was drafted into the Navy. But because of his poor vision and problem with eyesight was the major obstacle that blocked him from it. (AP Photo/Scott Harms) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over . He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California. "We were introduced to each other, we sat down, and Jim was so friendly he was just so down-to-earth, and my nervousness went away. 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The actor passed away at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, at his Brentwood home. He was very polite and friendly.. Her name is Janet Surtees and the two were married for 33 years. [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. 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. Arness wrote a letter to his fans that he asked Janet to post on his website after his passing. He had an insatiable appetite. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. 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. And it was the work they did with local Jewish youth that motivated Arness to donate the property in the first place. (AP) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over the television . And he lived a private family life with them. Arness and Surtees were married from 1978 to up until his death in 2011. The two spent the rest of the day horseback riding through nature and picnicking outdoors. This is not the case. Its a lot of fun to watch. var s = d.createElement('script'); s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true; His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. Of course, she was charmed by his politeness and friendliness, so they got to talking. He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. The tragedy does not stop there. One night she [her friend] said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. 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