When Arnesss entertainment career took off, he struggled to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. He had a son, Rolf, and daughter, Jenny, with Chapman. 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. 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. Then, after three years, his younger brother Peter was born. In the letter, James thanks all of his fans for cheering him on throughout his career. "I had a wonderful life and was blessed with (so) many loving people and great friends.". He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. Despite having a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter, Arnesss dream came to the end because of his eyesight problem. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldnt last long. 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. Your email address will not be published. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. I had a wonderful life and was blessed with so many loving people and great friends. He met her four years after his divorce from Chapman and dated her for six years. The two married in 1978 and were together until James Arness passed in 2011. But Janet was hesitant at first. However, legendary Western actor John Wayne thought he had star potential. in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. . { In 1943, James was drafted into the Navy. However, her sons love for Gunsmoke convinced her to go. Stephen Greif Cause Of Death: When Stephen Greif Passed Away? Following those events,Arness divorced her in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years. In 1978, Arness wed Janet Surtees for the second time. (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. Obviously, Janet accepted. Jim Backus. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. In addition, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34 movies, as well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies. Is There Anything Tom Cruise Wont Do For A Mission: Impossible Stunt?! Then there was a knock at the door. In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. Who is the woman who captured the heart of the 67 tall actor, James Arness? After that day they didn't meet again for about three months. 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. Source; Getty Images As of 2022, James Arnesss net worth was $10 million. His role in the popular TV seriesGunsmokeskyrocketed his fame. James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. He tried his hand at a non-Western series with McClains Law, a short-lived 1981-1982 police drama. A year later, he married his first wife,Virginia Chapman. However, StrictlyWeddings.com is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. Arness said he still watched Gunsmoke after retiring. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. 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. Besides, James had married twice in his life. He amassed most of this through his long-standing Hollywood career. She loves to volunteer and can often be found working with the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation. However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. We obtain this information from publically accessible sources and endeavor to make sure it's correct. In 1978, James Arness married Janet Surtees and she remained with him before his death. James adopted her son, Craig. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. He is a big guy, and He was very polite," sherecallsof meeting James. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. 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. Although he could not serve as a pilot, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in March 1943. He and Peter participated in the Second World War, but unfortunately, he didn't leave the battlefield uninjured. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. where it was shown numerous times in the decades that followed. James Arness' role as Marshal Matt Dillon made him an iconic hero to millions all over the world. Arness' 20-year, prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . Arness was passionate about Gunsmoke, but he put his children ahead of his shooting schedule. Many of them I never had a chance to see when we did them because it was (on television) on Saturday night and I was usually out doing something else at the time. 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. He had also received an Alma masters from Beloit College. Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. After multiple surgeries, he was thenmedically discharged. But because of his poor vision and problem with eyesight was the major obstacle that blocked him from it. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. Primetime Emmy . 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. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Arness was 88 years old. 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. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. During an interview, Janet opened up about the night she met James. However, their first date took an odd turn when they saw an advertisement for Gunsmoke that featured Matt and Miss Kitty. According to theLos Angeles Times, James passed away at 88 years old on June 3, 2011, due to natural causes. 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. CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. Both James and Janet had children from previous marriages. Why dont you come over and meet him? However, they didn't get married or have children from their relationship. It was a wonderful thing. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. James Arness is the first son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler. Some of the stars appearing in Gunsmoke are - Burt Reynolds, Ken Curtis, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, and James Arness. The two met during the last season of Gunsmoke. He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. His younger brother Peter Greaves used the stage name "Graves" which was a maternal family name. Portrait of James Arness (portrays Marshal Matt Dillon). After appearing on The Farmers Daughter, Arness dropped the u in his name and would be credited as James Arness for the rest of his life. I want major pictures and I dont care if its not the leading role.. Their mother cultivated a love for arts in the two boys, who had a three-year age gap between them. After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. And here comes this huge man through the door, I was like, oh my gosh. He is father of Three(Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, Jenny Lee Aurness). If he wants to call me, he will. Three months later, he finally called. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. Sadly, Chapman passed away in 1977 after a heroin overdose. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. While in the hospital, nurses suggested that his voice would be perfect for the radio, reports The Guardian. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. The actor founded Westlight, a stock photography agency. But there was one person in particular that James wanted to thank most his wife, Janet. But, his role as Zeb Macahan in "How The West Was Won" sealed him as a television icon in the United States and Europe. James Arness doesnt seem to be active on different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Gunsmoke is a TV Western drama series that ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS. Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. 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). The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The couple got married in 1978 and remained together until the death of the actor in 2011. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.. And his mothers name is Ruth Duesler who was from Germany and was a journalist by the profession. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television Arness portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. On the other hand, Craig pursued photography and became an official photographer for National Geographic. His birth date ison May 26, 1923. And he lived a private family life with them. He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Rolf and Jimmy; and six grandchildren. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. All Rights Reserved. He now lives a private lifein Los Angeles and regularly volunteers at a Santa Monica mental health clinic. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. Chapman. 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 also has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 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. One was named Craig, a photographer, while the other, Jenny, was an actress and they died in 2004 and 1975 respectively. James Arness: Rumors, Controversy/Scandal. Your email address will not be published. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. (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.) James Arness has been divorced once, in 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. Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. 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. He first shared wedding vows with Virginia Chapman in 1948. Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at his Brentwood home from natural causes. Although he was a famous actor, James liked to keep his personal life under wraps. Moreover, his ethnicity is Mixed(German and Norwegian). She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. Additionally, he directed five episodes of the . To make up for the lost role, an actor . var params = Why dont you come over and meet him? After the end of his first marriage, James exchanged his wedding vows with Janet Surtees. Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. So, even after 33 years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the Hollywood actors wife. The next day he called her and asked if she wanted to go to Mammoth Lakes, and she said yes. 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. 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