The actor died in his sleep at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer. How Did James Arness Die? James had a rich background as he was of Norwegian, German, and English descent. He was 88. Here is a look at his life and career. Late actor James Drury was wed three times, but the love of his life will always be his third wife, Carl Ann Drury. (Photo: Twitter) if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'hollywoodmask_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',173,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hollywoodmask_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Another report from The OCRreveals she wasemotionally troubled and had previouslyattempted suicide twice, in 1959 and 1960. Yes, he was tall, handsome, polite, and a famous actor, but he dropped the ball after a super romantic date with his future wife, Janet Surtees. He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. Despite the separation, James still pursued his career. Christian Camargo and His Wife Juliet Are No Longer Together His CurrentRelationship, Nessa Barretts Tattoos Are Tributes to her Boyfriend, Mom And a Friend, Sarah Paulson Had Everyone Confused on Whether She Was Gay or Not, No time for love-life Madeleine Arthur Is Too Busy To Have a Boyfriend, Bob Balabans Wife Lynn Grossman Made Major Impact in His Career, Sam Jaeger and Wife Ambers Relationship From Best Friends to Parents and Co-stars, James Arness Bore the Grief of Losing Two Children before His Death. He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. var s = d.createElement('script'); s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true; James Arness, a great Sequoia tree in the forest of TV Western heroes, has died; he was 88. The couple got married in 1978 and remained together until the death of the actor in 2011. He had an insatiable appetite. 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. There was a high rumor about a long-term relationship between James Arness and actress, Thordis Brandt, but they never get married. 'https' : 'http'; The two married in 1978 and were together until James Arness passed in 2011. The $8 million net worth of American actor James Arness. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
, The Tragic Life and Sad Ending of JAMES ARNESS. 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. 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. They went horse riding and stopped at a remote camping area where other people had also settled to rest. Having been married for 15 years, they finally parted ways in 1963. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. Both James and Janet had children from previous marriages. Inside the marriage of Janet and her Late Husband James Arness. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. James Arness: Rumors, Controversy/Scandal. 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. He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. 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. They had tied the knot in 1948. 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. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. When Arnesss entertainment career took off, he struggled to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. Also get to know more about Fatima Bhutto,Sheridan Smith, and Lara Pulver. James Arness was born as James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. He was interned at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. His role as marshall Matt Dillon made him an iconic hero to millions all over the world. Andrew Dorff Cause of Death: What Happened to Andrew Dorff? After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", James Arness was married twice. (Arness would later say that Matt's only onscreen kiss was in that episode, "Matt's Love Story," but Kitty did in fact kiss him once.) One night, the owner of the store invited Janet over to meet Jim. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. James Arness has been bestowed many honors for . In 2006, Arness said he felt like the luckiest guy in the world because of his experiences. One was named Craig, a photographer, while the other, Jenny, was an actress and they died in 2004 and 1975 respectively. GUNSMOKE's James Arness was born on May 26, 1923. She wasnt sure how she felt about meeting, and possibly dating, a big-time Hollywood star. This included the deaths of his daughter and ex-wife merely two years apart. Arness portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. Besides, James had married twice in his life. Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. As a young child, most of his life, James usually found it hard in his . Janet Surtees Arness is. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. ne Mans Justice, a made-for-TV movie, featuring (from top) Bruce Boxleitner (as Davis Healy) and James Arness (as Matt Dillon). Then, after three years, his younger brother Peter was born. Who is the woman who captured the heart of the 67 tall actor, James Arness? In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. She would later admit that she lost him to his work, describing him as a comet that left her lonely on earth. Relationship Status In 1948, Arness married Virginia Chapman and adopted Craig, her son. And here comes this huge man through the door. How many times was James Arness married? In 1948, a few years before the premiere of Gunsmoke on television, Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman. Why dont you come over and meet him? Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. He went to John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. Arness was born James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, the son of businessman Rolf Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler. They were last married in 1978 to Janet Surtees. The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBS's most important actor overall. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (function(d) { "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. 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. Arness adopted Chapmans son Craig, who died in 2004. When Graves decided to pursue acting professionally, he adopted the surname 'Graves' to honor his mother's family. Arnesss bio stated he had 6 feet 7 inches tall. Arness escorted her somewhere alone for lunch, clearly knowing exactly where he was heading. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. Its a lot of fun to watch. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at the age of 88 in Brentwood, California. If he wants to call me, he will. Three months later, he finally called. A year later, he married his first wife,Virginia Chapman. He died on 3rd June 2011 of natural causes. He appeared in different several films and on television. They were character study shows, Arness once told the Associated Press. (Arness would later say that Matt's . 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. In 1943, James was drafted into the Navy. Here is a look at his life and career. The cast of 'Gunsmoke' poses around a wagon in a promotional portrait for the Western television series. (Humorous pause). After dinner, he walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you,' said Janet. But the couple gets divorced in 1963, and Arness was granted legal custody of the children. Gunsmoke is a TV Western drama series that ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS. Isn't James and Janet's relationship adorable? His portrayal of Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke earned him accolades and wealth for many years beyond the twenty-year run of the show. His father, Rolf Aurness, was a businessman, while his mother, Ruth, was a journalist. Gunsmoke actor James Arness was frequently asked why characters Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty never got married. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. He used to reside in a million dollars house in Los Angeles, California. Janets friend, who owned the dress shop and knew Jim, suggested that Janet call him. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They tied the knot in 1978 and lived in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood Brentwood, Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. Arness wrote a letter to his fans that he asked Janet to post on his website after his passing. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. He served in the United States Army for two years from 1943 to 1945. So I thought, Well, okay, Ill meet Jim and tell my son I met him,' said Janet. 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. Jim is Surtees's first child from a previous relationship. Then there was a knock at the door. 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. Arness was a respected soldier of World War II. He first shared wedding vows with Virginia Chapman in 1948. Arness later found love inThordis Brand. Graves had an elder brother, James Arness, who was also an actor. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. Her parents married in 1948 and divorced in 1963 after 15 years of marriage. All Rights Reserved. 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. According to theLos Angeles Times, James passed away at 88 years old on June 3, 2011, due to natural causes. From 1955 through 1975, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the Western drama Gunsmoke. 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. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. "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. He grew up with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actor. They had been together for six years. James Arness married his second wife Janet Surtees in 1978 and remained together till his death. Why dont you come over and meet him? 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. Copyright 2012-2023 Social Sweethearts GmbH. 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. The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. However, in 1963, James Arness divorced Virginia Chapman. })(document); Virginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. The tragedy does not stop there. His real issue though was his height. 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 . He briefly attended Beloit College in Wisconsin before his service with the United States. Furthermore, James' brother, a well-known Misson: Impossible actor Peter Graves died of a heart attack on 14th March 2010. Arness and Surtees were married from 1978 to up until his death in 2011. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. 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. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. His muscular physique and charming and authoritative personality made him one of Hollywood's biggest Western drama stars at the time. JAMES MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE, AND TOGETHER THEY WELCOMED THREE KIDS, Virginia Arness and James Arness at home. After the separation, Arness got legalcustody of their children. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. Yes, he was tall, handsome, polite, and a famous actor, but he dropped the ball after a super romantic date with his future wife, Janet Surtees. James Arness is not having an affair with anyone presently. Arness was passionate about Gunsmoke, but he put his children ahead of his shooting schedule. Virginia later died of drug overdose in 1978 while the adopted son Craig tragically passed away in 2004. s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" ALSO SEE: Hulk Hogan Visit article bio. Jim Arness said, "If Matt and Kitty [had] an on-screen love affair, they'd have to get married. According to the coroner's office, she wasfound dead in herbeach home. So, just like her husband, Janet continuously finds ways to give back. He was 88. 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. com for more Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. It plagued him for the rest of his life. 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. James Arness was one of the most prominent television personalities in the 1950s up until the 1990s in the United States. He first shared wedding vows withVirginia Chapman in 1948. On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. He enjoyedpoetry, sailboat racing, and surfing. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. World War II soldier turned actor James Arness had trouble finding meaty roles due to his height; his greatest was as the title monster in The Thing from Another World before the show premiered (1951). After Gunsmoke ended in 1975, Arness played Zeb Macahan in How The West Was Won from 1977 to 1979. But the Gunsmoke starmarried the next woman he met after his split from Brand. 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. April 22, 1955| Source: Getty Images. Then he didnt call for three months. He pursued acting as a profession, but most leading males refused to work with him due to his towering stature. Peter Graves, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother. Alden's wife worked with Janet at the time in a dress shop. They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The actor added, he had the privilege of working with numerous great actors over the years. Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. And it was the work they did with local Jewish youth that motivated Arness to donate the property in the first place. Actor James Arness (right) with his brother, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images. "The kids don't really have any part of my television life," he remarked after the divorce. Since she was already familiar with his profession, she decided to talk about her own. His real issue though was his height. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldnt last long. Arness said he still watched Gunsmoke after retiring. James Arness and Virginia Chapman gave birth to a son, Rolf, (born February 18, 1952) and a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness (May 23, 1950 - May 12, 1975). 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