CineScope
James Arness picture

James Arness

Acting
Known For

88 Years Old

The star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness (formerly had been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother later became a newspaper columnist. James attended West High School in Minneapolis. Although he appeared in school plays, he had no interest in performing, and dreamed instead of going to sea. After high school, he attended one semester at Beloit College before receiving his draft notice in 1943. He entered the army and trained at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, before shipping out for North Africa. After landing at Casablanca, Arness joined the 3rd Infantry Division in time for the invasion of Anzio. Ten days after the invasion, Arness was severely wounded in the leg and foot by German machine-gun fire. His wounds, which plagued him the rest of his life, resulted in his medical discharge from the army. While recuperating in a Clinton, Iowa hospital, he was visited by his younger brother Peter (later to gain fame as actor Peter Graves), who suggested he take a radio course at the University of Minnesota. James did so, and a teacher recommended him for a job as an announcer at a Minneapolis radio station. Though seemingly headed for success in radio, he followed a boyhood friend's suggestion and went with the friend to Hollywood in hopes of getting work as film extras. He studied at the Bliss-Hayden Theatre School under actor Harry Hayden, and while appearing in a play there was spotted by agent Leon Lance. Lance got the actor a role as Loretta Young's brother in The Farmer's Daughter (1947). The director of that film, H.C. Potter, recommended that he drop the "u" from his last name and soon thereafter the actor was officially known as James Arness. Little work followed this break,  He appeared in a production of "Candida", and married his leading lady, Virginia Chapman. He began to get small roles with frequency, often, due to his size, villainous characters. Most notable among these was that of the space alien in The Thing from Another World (1951). While playing a Greek warrior in a play, Arness was spotted by agent Charles K. Feldman, who represented John Wayne. Feldman introduced Arness to Wayne, who put the self-described 6' 6" actor under personal contract. Arness played several roles over the next few years for and with Wayne, whom he considered a mentor. In 1955, Wayne recommended Arness for the lead role of Matt Dillon in the TV series Gunsmoke (1955). (Contrary to urban legend, Wayne himself was never offered the role.) Arness at first declined, thinking a TV series could derail his growing film career, but Wayne argued for the show, and Arness accepted. After the cancellation of "Gunsmoke" in 1975, Arness took on another successful Western project, "How The West Was Won." A brief modern police drama, McClain's Law (1981), followed, and Arness played his mentor John Wayne's role in Red River (1988), a remake of the Wayne classic.

Born

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on 26th May 1923

Died

3rd June 2011

All Credits

The Red Skelton Show Image
The Red Skelton Show
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show Image
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
No Image
Lux Video Theatre
Chuck Scott
Gunsmoke Image
Gunsmoke
Marshal Matt Dillon
How the West Was Won Image
How the West Was Won
Zeb Macahan
McClain's Law Image
McClain's Law
Det. Jim McClain
No Image
Front Row Center
The Johnny Carson Show Image
The Johnny Carson Show
Hondo Image
Hondo
Lennie
Them! Image
Them!
FBI Agent Robert Graham
In a Lonely Place Image
In a Lonely Place
Young Detective (uncredited)
The Thing from Another World Image
The Thing from Another World
'The Thing'
Battleground Image
Battleground
Garby
Wagon Master Image
Wagon Master
Floyd Clegg
For the Love of Spock Image
For the Love of Spock
Matt Dillon (archive footage)
The Sea Chase Image
The Sea Chase
Schlieter
Alias Jesse James Image
Alias Jesse James
Marshal Matt Dillon (uncredited)
Island in the Sky Image
Island in the Sky
Mac McMullen
Big Jim McLain Image
Big Jim McLain
Mal Baxter
Horizons West Image
Horizons West
Tiny McGilligan
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory Image
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory
Jim Bowie
Carbine Williams Image
Carbine Williams
Leon Williams
Gunsmoke: The Last Apache Image
Gunsmoke: The Last Apache
Matt Dillon
The Farmer's Daughter Image
The Farmer's Daughter
Peter Holstrom (as James Aurness)
The People Against O'Hara Image
The People Against O'Hara
John Fordman 'Johnny' O'Hara
Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge Image
Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
Matt Dillon
The Lone Hand Image
The Lone Hand
Gus Varden
Red River Image
Red River
Thomas Dunson
Sierra Image
Sierra
Little Sam (as Jim Arness)
Many Rivers to Cross Image
Many Rivers to Cross
Esau Hamilton
Gun the Man Down Image
Gun the Man Down
Rem Anderson
Wyoming Mail Image
Wyoming Mail
Russell
Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice Image
Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice
Matt Dillon
Hellgate Image
Hellgate
George Redfield
Stars in My Crown Image
Stars in My Crown
Rolfe Isbell (uncredited)
The Girl in White Image
The Girl in White
Matt
The Man from Texas Image
The Man from Texas
(uncredited)
The First Traveling Saleslady Image
The First Traveling Saleslady
Joel Kingdom
Gunsmoke: The Long Ride Image
Gunsmoke: The Long Ride
Matt Dillon
The Macahans Image
The Macahans
Zeb Macahan
Iron Man Image
Iron Man
Alex Mallick
Her Twelve Men Image
Her Twelve Men
Ralph Munsey
The Veils of Bagdad Image
The Veils of Bagdad
Targut
Gunsmoke: To the Last Man Image
Gunsmoke: To the Last Man
Matt Dillon
Roses Are Red Image
Roses Are Red
Ray (as James Aurness)
Flame of the Islands Image
Flame of the Islands
Kelly Rand
The Horror Show Image
The Horror Show
(archive footage)
Cavalry Scout Image
Cavalry Scout
Barth
Two Lost Worlds Image
Two Lost Worlds
Kirk Hamilton
No Image
John Wayne Standing Tall
Self - Host