Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. Then one night she said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. So, even after 33 years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the Hollywood actors wife. Stephen Greif Cause Of Death: When Stephen Greif Passed Away? He believed the family seen on Gunsmoke was why people kept going back to it for two decades. James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the strong and commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV western series "Gunsmoke," died Friday.. He drifted around Mexico for some time; then, he returned to Hollywood with a burning desire to become an actor. He briefly attended Beloit College in Wisconsin before his service with the United States. I want major pictures and I dont care if its not the leading role.. 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. Having lived a fulfilling life as an actor, James Arness died on the 3rd day of June 2011. On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. In addition, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34 movies, as well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies. After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. var qs = Object.keys(params).reduce(function(a, k){ a.push(k + '=' + encodeURIComponent(params[k])); return a},[]).join(String.fromCharCode(38)); The two spent the rest of the day horseback riding through nature and picnicking outdoors. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. After the separation, Arness got legalcustody of their children. Arness adopted Chapman's son Craig, who died in 2004. Learn how your comment data is processed. After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive from this page is correct. The couple got married in 1978 and remained together until the death of the actor in 2011. Depp Net Worth 2022: How Many Times Depp Divorced? James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. 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. (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.) Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. In the latter seasons of "Gunsmoke," Arness met what would become his second wife, Janet Surtees. Notably, James gained massive popularity when he took on the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS Television series "Gunsmoke," a role he played for 20 years. "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. Your email address will not be published. James Arness is married to Janet Surtees. Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. (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 was best known for starring Marshal Matt Dillon for twenty years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. As a result, he played a role in getting Arness to accept the role of Matt on Gunsmoke, the show that would prove to be the pinnacle of his career. wid: "428986", 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. 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. When Arnesss entertainment career took off, he struggled to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. How The Actor Died. He died at the age of 88. Jim Backus. One night, the owner of the store invited Janet over to meet Jim. . Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. What Happened To Patty Duke? He appeared in different several films and on television. Gunsmoke actor James Arness was frequently asked why characters Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty never got married. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. April 22, 1955| Source: Getty Images. I had a wonderful life and was blessed with so many loving people and great friends. 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. James Arness, a great Sequoia tree in the forest of TV Western heroes, has died; he was 88. GUNSMOKE's James Arness was born on May 26, 1923. He also has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. James Arness was best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon for two decades on CBS Gunsmoke. James had a rich background as he was of Norwegian, German, and English descent. He had three children over the course of his lifetime - Craig, Rolf, and Jenny. He can also be spotted in John Fords underrated Wagon Master. The next day he called her and asked if she wanted to go to Mammoth Lakes, and she said yes. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBS's most important actor overall. by .. craig aurness pic.twitter.com/KGSr1BbGno Despite the separation, James still pursued his career. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. Relationship Status In 1948, Arness married Virginia Chapman and adopted Craig, her son. 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. Arness' daughter Jenny committed suicide on 12th May 1975 by drug overdose. In the 1940s, he married Dorothy Gillooly (19262012), who had served in the Women's Army Corps. 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 amassed most of this through his long-standing Hollywood career. But because of his poor vision and problem with eyesight was the major obstacle that blocked him from it. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. The actor founded Westlight, a stock photography agency. com for more 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. Other than that, there is no controversy surrounding him. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. Although he could not serve as a pilot, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in March 1943. However, their first date took an odd turn when they saw an advertisement for Gunsmoke that featured Matt and Miss Kitty. Her name is Janet Surtees and the two were married for 33 years. Why dont you come over and meet him? From 1955 through 1975, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the Western drama Gunsmoke. Surtees worked about six to seven years with the lady, during which time she was told about their adventures. Of course, she was charmed by his politeness and friendliness, so they got to talking. in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. Furthermore, James' brother, a well-known Misson: Impossible actor Peter Graves died of a heart attack on 14th March 2010. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978) However, they didn't get married or have children from their relationship. Actors usually have a hard time watching their own work, but this was not a problem for Arness. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. Their longest marriage was 33 years to Janet Surtees. Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. Marshal Matt Dillon on the popular Western series that aired for a then-record 20 seasons on television. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", Arness died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, a family spokesman said at the time. Many delicious foods and drinks were provided, including cheese, crackers, bread, wine, and much more. 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. She was a beautiful and gracious lady who had a lot to do with the success of 'Gunsmoke, series star James Arness said Thursday. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. 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. Likely, they were also blessed with a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. The Gunsmoke family was the thing that people got used to, and (they) wanted to see that in their homes on Saturday nights, you see, he told the Signal. He and his brother participated in the Second World War, but he didn't come out of it unscathed. 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. They had been together for six years. James Arness net worth: James Arness was an American actor who had a net worth of $8 million. Ethnicity White ProfessionActor Nationality American Active Year1947-1994 Eye colour Hazel Hair colour Brown BuildAverage SpouseVirginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. Kourtney Kardashian Pregnant: Has There Been A Happy Announcement Of A Pregnancy. After dinner, he walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you,' said Janet. James Arness was first married in 1948 to Virginia Chapman. He had a young brother named Peter who later gained fame as an actor named Peter Graves. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. 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