James Arness
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James Arness (originally Aurness) (born May 26, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke for 20 years, a record length for prime time shows that is shared with Kelsey Grammer’s portrayal of Dr. Frasier Crane. Arness's parents were Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler, descendants of German and Norwegian immigrants. Arness is the older brother of actor Peter Graves. He was the tallest actor ever to play a lead role, standing 6' 7" (2.01 m).
Military service in World War II, acting career
Though primarily identified with Westerns, he also is remembered for appearing in two science fiction films, The Thing from Another World and Them!
James Arness served in the United States Army during World War II, and was severely wounded at the Battle of Anzio, leading to a lifelong slight limp. He was a close personal friend of John Wayne's and co-starred with him in Big Jim McLain, and Island in the Sky. Wayne was a staunch supporter of Arness to play the lead role on Gunsmoke when the part came available.
Since Gunsmoke ended, Arness has continued to perform primarily in western-themed movies and television series, including How the West Was Won, and five made-for-television Gunsmoke reunion movies between 1987 and 1994. A notable exception was a brief turn as a big city policeman in the short-lived 1981 series, McClain's Law.
For his contribution to the television industry, James Arness has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street. In 1981, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Filmography
- The Farmer's Daughter (1947)
- Roses Are Red (1947)
- Battleground (1949)
- Wagon Master (1950)
- Stars in My Crown (1950)
- Sierra (1950)
- Wyoming Mail (1950)
- Two Lost Worlds (1951)
- Belle Le Grand (1951)
- The Thing from Another World (1951)
- Cavalry Scout (1951)
- Iron Man (1951)
- The People Against O'Hara (1951)
- The Girl in White (1952)
- Carbine Williams (1952)
- Big Jim McLain (1952)
- Hellgate (1952)
- Horizons West (1952)
- Lone Hand (1953)
- Island in the Sky (1953)
- The Veils of Bagdad (1953)
- Hondo (1953)
- Them! (1954)
- Her Twelve Men (1954)
- Many Rivers to Cross (1955)
- The Sea Chase (1955)
- Flame of the Islands (1956)
- The First Traveling Saleslady (1956)
- Gun the Man Down (1956)
- Alias Jesse James (1959) (Cameo)
- Comanche Stallion (2006)
Television Work
- Gunsmoke (1955-1975)
- The Macahans (1976)
- How the West Was Won (1977) (miniseries)
- How the West Was Won (1978) (miniseries)
- How the West Was Won (1979) (canceled after 20 episodes)
- McClain's Law (1981-1982)
- [[The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory]] (1987)
- Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987)
- Red River (1988)
- Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990)
- Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (1992)
- Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993)
- Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (1994)
See also
External links
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