James Arness height, biography, death, net worth, wiki, family and latest updates
James Arness stature, biography, passing, financial status, wiki, family, and recent updates.
James Arness was a prominent American performer. For more than two decades, James Arness was chiefly recognized as Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS television series “Gunsmoke.”
James Arness Biography and Profile Overview
James Arness is the eldest son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler. He entered this world on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US. Three years later, his younger sibling Peter came along. Their parents had careers in business and journalism. Rolf hailed from Norway, while his wife Ruth practiced journalism.
James attended three educational institutions in Minneapolis, namely John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School. Subsequently, he enrolled at Beloit College. However, their financial situation was not impressive, prompting James to work as a courier and miss numerous classes.
Date of Birth:
1923, May-26
Date of Death:
2011, June-3
Age:
88 at the time of passing
Birth Nation:
United States of America
Height:
6 Feet 7 Inches
Name
James Arness
Birth Name
James King Aurness
Father
Rolf Cirkler Aurness
Mother
Ruth Duesler
Nationality
American
Birth Place/City
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Ethnicity
Mixed
Profession
Actor
Net Worth
$8 Million
Marital Status
Virginia Chapman and Janet Surtees
Children
Rolf Aurness, Craig Aurness, Jim Aurness, and Jenny Lee
Films
Gunsmoke, Them!, The Thing From Another World
Siblings
Peter Graves
Died
3 June 2011
James Arness Height and Weight
With impressive body measurements, James was a tall and hefty individual. He stood at 6 feet 7 inches or 2.01 meters tall and weighed 105 kg or 235 pounds.
Moreover, his precise measurements (chest-waist-hips) were 48-36-26 inches. Additionally, he had golden-hued hair and light brown eyes.
Hair Color
Blonde
Eye Color
Grey
Height
6 feet 6 inches
Weight
235 lbs
James Arness: Family
As indicated earlier, James resided with his parents and his brother Peter Graves. Their family surname was Aurness, but James’s grandfather altered it to Arness upon their emigration from Norway. Conversely, Peter adopted the surname ‘Graves’ as his maternal family name. James Arness and his kin practiced Methodism.
James Arness: Personal Life
In 1948, James Arness wed American actress Virginia Chapman in California, US. Virginia gained recognition for her roles in Matinee Theatre, Highway Patrol, and Whirlybirds. Their marriage endured for 15 years before culminating in divorce. They had one daughter, Jenny Lee Arness, born in 1950, and a son, Rolf Arness, born in 1952. Jenny was an actress who tragically passed away at the young age of 24 due to an overdose of sleeping pills. Rolf pursued a career as a surfer.
After the divorce, James tied the knot with Janet Surtees in 1978. Janet was employed in a clothing store owned by the wife of James’s makeup artist from the Gunsmoke series. They met at a dinner and gradually fell in love. James and Janet had two children, Jim Surtees and Craig Arness. Jim was James Arness’s stepson, while Craig, born in 1946, was Virginia’s son. Janet is currently alive and is approximately 80 years old.
James Arness in the Military
Initially, James aspired to become a naval pilot. However, he feared that his poor eyesight would hinder this ambition. In truth, his additional 5 inches in height were the primary reasons for his rejection.
Eventually, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed at Fort Snelling, a key center for military operations. During World War II, the Battle of Anzio occurred in 1944. This conflict stretched over five months and was embroiled in numerous controversies. As a result of this battle, James sustained a severe injury to his right leg, necessitating transportation from Italy to the US for treatment. He was admitted to the 91st General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa. His recovery from the injury was lengthy, and he continued to struggle with it even after retiring from the US military in 1945.
Recognitions
In his brief tenure in the military, James Arness earned various accolades and honors. His uniform decorations included the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal adorned with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
James Arness: Career, Films, and Shows
As a Radio Announcer
While recuperating from his leg injury in the hospital, James’s brother Peter visited him. During the prolonged healing period, Peter encouraged his elder brother to pursue a radio course. Consequently, James completed the course and embarked on his entertainment career based on a teacher’s recommendation. He started as a radio announcer at WLOL in 1945, a station located near the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
He experienced success as a radio performer. Conversely, he also sought another avenue in the entertainment industry—acting. Prior to appearing in over 30 films over 40 years, he had to exert extra effort.
Film Career
Initially, James worked as an extra in films at the suggestion of a friend. He also attended Bliss-Hayden Theatre School under the guidance of actor Harry Hayden. During his time at the theatre, he was discovered by Leon Lance. A minor role of Peter in The Farmer’s Daughter provided him with a breakthrough opportunity.
James Arness participated in over 30 films, including timeless classics such as BattleGround (1949), Hondo (1953), and Them! (1954). To put it differently, this renowned actor had to put forth significant effort to forge his identity in Hollywood. In films like Gang Member (1948), Stars In My Crown (1950), In a Lonely Place (1950), Belle De Grand (1951), and Double Crossbones (1951), he did not receive credit for his name.
Television Career
Not only was he acclaimed for Gunsmoke, but James Arness also received positive reactions as a television actor for his numerous roles. Although, his casting for this series had a different backstory. While portraying a Greek warrior in a play, he caught the eye of Charles K. Feldman, who was working alongside director John Wayne. Subsequently, James met him and collaborated with him. Consequently, John recommended James Arness for the lead role of Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke.
Initially, James preferred to pursue his film career but eventually consented. And remarkably, Gunsmoke remains one of the enduring American TV series, boasting an IMDb rating of 8.0. Following that, James featured in The Macahans (1976), How the West Was Won (1976-79) as Zeb Macahan, and McClain’s Law as Det. Jim McClain, among others.
Other Contributions
James Arness participated in a documentary entitled America’s Star in 1988. For this role, he was awarded the honorary title of US Marshal and received an official badge. Furthermore, he hosted a television program titled John Wayne Standing Tall in 1989.
How Did James Arness Pass Away?
James Arness succumbed to natural causes at his residence in Los Angeles, as per his business manager, Ginny Fazer.
James Arness: Financial Status and Accolades
As per the latest reports, his net worth stood at $8 million prior to his death. His income stemmed from acting in films, television series, and stage performances. Regarding awards, James Arness garnered numerous prestigious accolades for his acting skills.
Firstly, he was nominated for the Emmy awards three times in 1957, 58, and 59. Additionally, James’s name appears in various halls of fame, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street and the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Furthermore, in 1989, James Arness was ranked sixth among the top 25 television stars of all time by People magazine. Similarly, he was placed 20th out of 50 in the Greatest TV Stars of All Time list by TV Guide in 1996.
