He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. Then there was a knock at the door. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978) 'https' : 'http'; ALSO SEE: Hulk Hogan Visit article bio. His role in the popular TV seriesGunsmokeskyrocketed his fame. His father, Rolf Aurness, was a businessman, while his mother, Ruth, was a journalist. James Arness with his first wife Virginia Chapman James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. 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. Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. And here comes this huge man through the door. Moreover, James attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Most recently they were married to Janet Surtees in 1978. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. ', Your email address will not be published. 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. That was too bad, because we were on two hours every night, seven days a week.. In 1987, he played the same character in the television film "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge." April 22, 1955| Source: Getty Images. In 1943, James received his draft notice, joining the army and training. 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 . He married his wife Janet Surtees on December 16, 1978. . James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. 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. 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. He had also received an Alma masters from Beloit College. What Happened To Patty Duke? Andrew Dorff Cause of Death: What Happened to Andrew Dorff? (Humorous pause). He met her four yearsafter his divorce fromChapman and dated herfor six years. Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. As of 2022, James Arnesss net worth was $10 million. We just started talking, and he was a skier, and I was into skiing.". Nothing happened for three months. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet laughing. However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. where it was shown numerous times in the decades that followed. Actor James Arness (right) with his brother, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images. })(document); Virginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. James Arness is the first son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler. On the other hand, Craig pursued photography and became an official photographer for National Geographic. Their parents were businessmen and journalists. What do you think of his eventful life with his two wives? On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. He served in the United States Army for two years from 1943 to 1945. He was very polite and friendly.. 20 Things You Didnt Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Gunsmoke: James Arness Called Wife Best Part of My Life. John Wayne suggested Arness for the role of Matt Dillon. Moreover, He was the tallest leading man in Hollywood by the time. Stephen Greif Cause Of Death: When Stephen Greif Passed Away? There they had food and spoke about their families. 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. Jamess make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. She was 56 years old at the time of her death. 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). Chapman. He can also be spotted in John Fords underrated Wagon Master. To start, we went to a food store, Janet explained. James Arness married his second wife Janet Surtees in 1978 and remained together till his death. He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. Who is the woman who captured the heart of the 67 tall actor, James Arness? 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 . Advertisement Both his letter and his love story prove that James Arness was not just a gritty actor. He was 88. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBSs most important actor overall. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. However, James and Janet never had any children together. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . Arness is immortal in TV history as Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, the longest-running network. And here comes this huge man through the door. James met his second wife, Janet Surtees, thanks to his makeup artist Glen Alden, who had a wife that managed a dress shop where she worked. He had warned her he would be away for a few weeks but that he would reach out upon his return. How many times has James Arness been married? At first, Janet was skeptical about meeting James, a television star, but since her son was a fan of his, she tried and took that leap of fate. 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. 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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. exitPopMobile: true, He completed his high school in June 1942. With his second spouse, James shared four children. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. tim 90 day fiance weird body; . Other than that, there is no controversy surrounding him. She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And then it'd be a different show." "They'd say that would ruin it," Byrnes confirms. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978). He was interned at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He died on 3rd June 2011 of natural causes. In fact, they never accepted their relationship in public. Woody McClain, Brian Blosil, and Tom Rhys are some renowned American actors. Arness might be known for Gunsmoke, but that was hardly the only thing he did. 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. It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. Inside the marriage of Janet and her Late Husband James Arness. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", In addition, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34 movies, as well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies. Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. At some point, Alden's wife urged her to join them for dinner since James would also be there. James and Janet lived happily, even after his stint as Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke" and his movies. 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. The Arness family at home. "The kids don't really have any part of my television life," he remarked after the divorce. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. He was found dead at Brentwoods home in Los Angeles, California. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. Jeremiah Green Cause of Death: Jeremiah Green left Modest Mouse when? Having lived a fulfilling life as an actor, James Arness died on the 3rd day of June 2011. Janets father and brother were both pilots. Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. 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 graduated high school in June 1942, despite being a poor student and skipping classes. He was 88. But because of his poor vision and problem with eyesight was the major obstacle that blocked him from it. (Arness would later say that Matt's . The two married in 1978 and were together until James Arness passed in 2011. The two later got divorced in 1960 after having two children; Rolf and Jenny. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. 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. From 1976 to 1979, Arness played on television in the role of Zeb Macahan in the series How the West Was Won. Arness wrote a letter to his fans that he asked Janet to post on his website after his passing. He stars in the CBS television western, Gunsmoke. Born James King Aurness, his father was a traveling salesman, his mother was a newspaper columnist. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. Rolf was a Norwegian and his wife, Ruth was a journalist. He pursued acting as a profession, but most leading males refused to work with him due to his towering stature. Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. Since she was already familiar with his profession, she decided to talk about her own. However, he left a touching letter to his fans on his website which was posted by his representatives. Are you a James Arness fan? In 1978, Arness wed Janet Surtees for the second time. He had blue-colored eyes and blonde-colored hair. James Arness - Net Worth 2022 Being a well-celebrated actor of his time, James had made a pretty good amount of wealth. On a Friday in 1977, she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, California. From 1955 through 1975, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the Western drama Gunsmoke. A year later, he married his first wife,Virginia Chapman. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman in 1948, and then to Janet Surtees in 1978. Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years as Frasier Crane from 1984 to 2004 on "Cheers" and then on "Frasier." . Then he is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. Arness was 88 years old. Many delicious foods and drinks were provided, including cheese, crackers, bread, wine, and much more. James Arness: Rumors, Controversy/Scandal. Arness achieved cult status thanks to his portrayal of Zeb Macahan in the western series titledHow the West Was Won. One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Portrait of James Arness (portrays Marshal Matt Dillon). The fans wanted to see more obvious indications of their relationship, but. She died in 1977 from a drug overdose, following her daughter's death two years prior on the same cause. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. He was born on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US. During the 20th . Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. James has been known for the role throughout his career, which is why the subsequent projects he starred in are linked to it. James Arness was married twice in his life. But Janet refused. She was nervous about having dinner with the actor, but they ended up getting along great. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. Their longest marriage was 33 years to Janet Surtees. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. 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. (From left) James Arness with Rolf (age 5), Virginia with daughter Jenny Lee (age 8) and Craig (age 10) on the floor. 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. Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. Moreover, he had also won the Golden Boot Award. CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. Gunsmoke actor James Arness was frequently asked why characters Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty never got married. { 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. 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. Gangsta Boo Cause of Death: Did Gangsta Boo Tie The Knot? They had tied the knot in 1948. However, Arness was eventually pulled back to Gunsmoke, starring in five made-for-TV movies between 1987 and 1993. Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. Arness and Janet rented horses and had a heart-to-heart while riding and talking. 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. They had been together for six years. com for more They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. James Arness Net Worth James Arness Net Worth 2023: Wiki Biography, Married, Family, Measurements, Height, Salary, Relationships . What made us different from other Westerns was the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and a lot of shooting. Janet arrived before Jim and nervously waited for him to arrive. The $8 million net worth of American actor James Arness. I want major pictures and I dont care if its not the leading role.. James adopted her son, Craig. But information about her mother isnt available in the media. James Arness was divorced from Also get to know more about Fatima Bhutto,Sheridan Smith, and Lara Pulver. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. So, just like her husband, Janet continuously finds ways to give back. . James Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 1923 . After dinner, he walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you,' said Janet. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. After Gunsmoke ended in 1975, Arness played Zeb Macahan in How The West Was Won from 1977 to 1979. He was 88. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. Actor. Arness could rest easy knowing that he will forever be associated with the Wild West thanks to the shows lasting rerun success. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. However, after one magical date, James didnt call Janet for three months! How Did James Arness Die? Jim Backus. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldnt last long. They tied the knot in 1978 and lived in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Kourtney Kardashian Pregnant: Has There Been A Happy Announcement Of A Pregnancy. 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