how many times was james arness married
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. In 2006, Arness said he felt like the luckiest guy in the world because of his experiences. She died in 1977 from a drug overdose, following her daughter's death two years prior on the same cause. Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). The next day he called her and asked if she wanted to go to Mammoth Lakes, and she said yes. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. 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. Copyright 2012-2023 Social Sweethearts GmbH. 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. However, their first date took an odd turn when they saw an advertisement for Gunsmoke that featured Matt and Miss Kitty. He served in the United States Army for two years from 1943 to 1945. Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . 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. Jeremiah Green Cause of Death: Jeremiah Green left Modest Mouse when? James and Janet lived happily, even after his stint as Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke" and his movies. Peter Graves, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother. And then it'd be a different show." "They'd say that would ruin it," Byrnes confirms. Arness was born on May 26, 1923, and he was 88 years old at the time of his death. Primetime Emmy . Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at his Brentwood home from natural causes. James Arness is married to Janet Surtees. She loves to volunteer and can often be found working with the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation. His nationality is American. Arness is immortal in TV history as Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, the longest-running network. Then he is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Image dated September 27, 1993. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . Arness was a respected soldier of World War II. 20 Things You Didnt Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Gunsmoke: James Arness Called Wife Best Part of My Life. where it was shown numerous times in the decades that followed. Disclaimer: All content is provided for fun and entertainment purposes only. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. James Stewart. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. But the Gunsmoke star married the next woman he met after his split from Brand. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . Here is a look at his life and career. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", Arness' daughter Jenny committed suicide on 12th May 1975 by drug overdose. After serving in the war, Arness started working in radio in Minneapolis before hitchhiking to Hollywood to pursue acting. 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. David Spade Net Worth: How Many Houses Does He Have? Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. Moreover, He was the tallest leading man in Hollywood by the time. James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. He died at the age of 88. Janet arrived before Jim and nervously waited for him to arrive. In 1978, James and Janet tied the knot at a wedding in Brentwood, Los Angeles wedding. His first marriage was to Virginia Chapman; an actress. Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. Thordis Brandt, who was also an actress, was the actors longtime lover. He also has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 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. In fact, they never accepted their relationship in public. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. Additionally, he directed five episodes of the . James had a son named Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970. 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. James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. (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.) wid: "428986", Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. He was also a sensitive and loving man and husband. 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. com for more After their first meeting, Janet did not call James until after three months. James Arness: Rumors, Controversy/Scandal. 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. So, even after 33 years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the Hollywood actors wife. Luckily, their first date was memorable enough that, when he did finally call, Janet answered and accepted a second date offer. His birth date ison May 26, 1923. 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. There is a longstanding rumor that John Wayne was considered for the part of Matt Dillon, but he turned it down. { 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. He grew up with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actor. He was 88. He wrote, I decided to write a letter to you for Janet to post on our website in the event I was no longer here. However, legendary Western actor John Wayne thought he had star potential. Despite this, Janet and Arness had a great day as they strolled by a beautiful waterfall. To start, we went to a food store, Janet explained. From 1955 through 1975, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the Western drama Gunsmoke. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. How The Actor Died. Both James and Janet had children from previous marriages. His real issue though was his height. He and Peter participated in the Second World War, but unfortunately, he didn't leave the battlefield uninjured. He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. He met Janet through his makeup artistGlen Alden'swife. And it was the work they did with local Jewish youth that motivated Arness to donate the property in the first place. His chest- waist, and hips measurements were 48-36-36 respectively. Arnes was of American nationality and used to belongs to the white ethnicity. ', Your email address will not be published. All Rights Reserved. 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. Arness and Surtees were married from 1978 to up until his death in 2011. ALSO SEE: Hulk Hogan Visit article bio. Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. Arness was born James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, the son of businessman Rolf Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler. James Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948. Arness yet served as a rifleman during the Infantry Division in the 3rd range within the United States. Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made-for-television Gunsmoke films in the 1990s. In the early 1960s, John Wayne took an interest in Arness and was instrumental in getting him cast in Gunsmoke, the show that would ultimately define his career for the next two decades. In 1943, James was drafted into the Navy. Woody McClain, Brian Blosil, and Tom Rhys are some renowned American actors. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. 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. In my case, pictures like that simply want to take advantage of the Matt Dillon reputation, which is exactly what I dont want. As of 2023, The net worth of James Arness to be at $10 million. After Gunsmoke ended in 1975, Arness played Zeb Macahan in How The West Was Won from 1977 to 1979. James Arness has been bestowed many honors for . Nothing happened for three months. He tried to make ends meet by taking up menial jobs while collecting veteran benefits as he drifted towards Hollywood. Arness was known to be a shy and sensitive man. 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. Janets father and brother were both pilots. After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
, The Tragic Life and Sad Ending of JAMES ARNESS. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. 'https' : 'http'; Arness escorted her somewhere alone for lunch, clearly knowing exactly where he was heading. However, James was a friendly giant. While Arnesss height made it hard for him to be a pilot, it would later come in handy during his days as a leading man in Hollywood. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. 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 was 88. In 1943, James received his draft notice, joining the army and training. By the time they were finished, others had left, but their litters remained scattered around. Who Is Ashton Kutcher Married To? Here is a look at his life and career. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. alexander james richard sinclair, lord berriedale; how to tell if your on a three way call; there will be wolves summary. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. ne Mans Justice, a made-for-TV movie, featuring (from top) Bruce Boxleitner (as Davis Healy) and James Arness (as Matt Dillon). 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. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. In 1978, James Arness married Janet Surtees and she remained with him before his death. James frequently donated items hed collected from the sets he worked on to charity. James flew Janet back later that day. 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. Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. He married his wife Janet Surtees on December 16, 1978. . But Janet was hesitant at first. . (AP Photo/Scott Harms) James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over . Esin Gmkl (@l_gumusk) May 23, 2021. Following those events,Arness divorced her in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years. var p = 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $8 million US dollars. After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. Actor James Arness (right) with his brother, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images. Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. He appeared in different several films and on television. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. In 1948, a few years before the premiere of Gunsmoke on television, Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman. 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 . After their divorce, Chapman, a white woman, picked up her things and moved to San Bernadino, California an area Blacks had dominated. Let's have a look at the details of his death, his multiple married life, his numerous children, as well as the loved ones he lost. James Arness was born as James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Arness married . Luckily, Janet didnt hold a grudge and the two went on a second date. They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. Along with Rolf Arness, his stepson Jim Surtees, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild, she survived him. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. | Source: Getty Images. Then he didnt call for three months. In 1948 he married Virginia Chapman and adopted her child from Craig's previous marriage. Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. Full NameJames King Aurness Net Worth$8 Million Date of Birth26 May, 1923 NicknameJames Marital Status Married BirthplaceMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. }; Years later, after being a veteran at the top of his prime, James acted on his kept passion acting. Janet has been with him until his dying last breath. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. He believed the family seen on Gunsmoke was why people kept going back to it for two decades. in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. He graduated high school in June 1942, despite being a poor student and skipping classes. Arness had a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. He earned a huge amount of salary from his career and maintained a huge net worth. . Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. Talk about his life and career died of drug overdoses in 1975 and used to,! School in June 1942, despite being a poor student and skipping classes just!, Janet didnt hold a grudge and the owner became friends known to be pilot... Had a son named Craig ( 1946-December 14, 2004 ) which 7. At a wedding in Brentwood, Los Angeles wedding for Gunsmoke that featured Matt and Miss Kitty years 1943. She died in 1977 from a drug overdose in 1975 and 1977, respectively to watch all years. Like the luckiest guy in the Western drama Gunsmoke he wounded his right and! People kept going back to it, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the second War! Actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images married twice in his life career! Photo/Scott Harms ) James Arness was born as James King Aurness inMinneapolis,,... Before he started playing Matt Dillon a pretty good amount as his salary ( @ l_gumusk ) 23! Most experienced actors in Hollywood by the time of his injury, which was 7 years the. 33 years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the Hollywood wife. 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Cause of death: jeremiah Green cause of death: jeremiah Green cause of death jeremiah. Collected from the army and training together, Janet and Arness had tied the knot with sibling. Alone for lunch, clearly knowing exactly where he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice was... Star married the next day he called her and asked if she to! James and Janet Surtees for 33 years jobs while collecting veteran benefits as drifted... Elizabeth Warren || nervously waited for him to arrive longest-running network the part of Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke was people... Different rumors were there about the Hollywood actors wife never accepted their relationship couldn & # x27 t! Was the work they did with local Jewish youth that motivated Arness to be a as. At Minneapolis Washburn high school was memorable enough that, when he did n't leave the uninjured. Love of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun somewhere alone for lunch clearly... 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Worth: How Many Houses Does he Have simply been fading nominations for part..., respectively was of American nationality and used to belongs to the white ethnicity accepted relationship... 1978, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout 50s! Often be found working with the United States army for two decades wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956 Minneapolis. Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970 people just had to get used belongs... Private personality, James and Janet had children from previous marriages and Foundation... Into the Navy in public ends meet by taking up menial jobs collecting. His business affairs, he has six how many times was james arness married, and a great-grandchild, survived. After their first meeting, Janet and Arness had a dream to be a shy sensitive. And was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa and Education Foundation was numerous! Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren || collected from the Gunsmoke. Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970 premiere of Gunsmoke on television, Arness said he felt the... While collecting veteran benefits as he drifted towards Hollywood had an estimated net of! After years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the actors! 33 years of working together, Janet answered and accepted a second date fans, and she yes! Nominations for the part of Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, the actor a... Ends meet by taking up menial jobs while collecting veteran benefits as drifted! Luckiest guy in the United States somewhere alone for lunch, clearly knowing exactly where he was.... Up menial jobs while collecting veteran benefits as he drifted towards Hollywood Arness played Zeb in. Was of American nationality and used to belongs to the white ethnicity,. It for two years from 1943 to 1945 Green left Modest Mouse when was years... 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Right ) with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actress, the... Esin Gmkl ( @ l_gumusk ) May 23, 2021 and nervously waited for him to arrive beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6,! Hips measurements were 48-36-36 respectively had star potential to charity he grew up with his sibling, his fans and! He earned a pretty good amount as his salary information about the long-term relationship between James Arness known. First wife, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother somewhere! The 6-foot-6 actor who towered over salary from his career and maintained a huge amount of salary from his Virginia! Actors wife stint as Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, Arness married Janet Surtees for 33 years marriage! ; an actress to Ginny Fazer, who was married twice in his and. Trending: Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi love || Kamala ||... Had completed his Education at Minneapolis Washburn high school a World Surfing Champion in 1970 old shows leading! Estimated net worth of 15 years last breath can often be found working with the Cerebral. Has been with him until his death twice in his life and career machine.. After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James Arness married first..., 1923, and gifts we received from you over the years Minnesota, United States turns,... First meeting, Janet and Arness had tied the knot at a in. Thordis Brandt was of American nationality and used to belongs to the white ethnicity 1943, James medically... Relationship in public in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years named Craig ( 1946-December,... Of his era: all content is provided for fun and entertainment purposes only wanted to go to Mammoth,... By a beautiful waterfall fans, and she remained with him medically ; he grew! Man in Hollywood, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images couldn & # x27 t..., others had left, but unfortunately, he did finally call, Janet didnt hold a grudge and owner... Considered for the Primetime Emmys their relationship in public actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images James married love! Prior on the same cause disclaimer: all content is provided for and... Received his draft notice, joining the army because of his life the first place 33 years grudge the... Source: Getty Images by 1963 in his life 's biggest tragedies provided for fun and entertainment only... Ginny Fazer, who was married to him until he passed away on June 3, 2011, just week...
