James Arness, Iconic 'Gunsmoke' Lawman, Dead at 88

By PopEater Staff Posted Jun 3rd 2011 02:30PM

James Arness, a bigger-than-life actor who kept the peace as Marshal Matt Dillon on 'Gunsmoke' for its 20-year run, died Friday of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, Calif., his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was 88.

'Gunsmoke' debuted on CBS in 1955 and ran until 1975, in the process making Arness one of the more enduring stars on television and the Matt Dillon character one of its most beloved and trusted.

The 6 foot 7 Arness towered over the cast, including Dillon's deputy, Chester, played by Dennis Weaver. Other supporting stars included Amanda Blake as Kitty and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams.

By the time Arness got the part of Dillon, he had been a WWII combat veteran and appeared in several films, most notably the science-fiction classics 'Them!' and 'The Thing From Another World,' in which he played an alien.

The Minneapolis native's younger brother, actor Peter Graves, who died last October, encouraged him to get into acting. He cut his Western teeth in four John Wayne film, including 'Hondo' and 'Big Jim McLain.'

It was Wayne that recommended Arness for 'Gunsmoke' and an on-air endorsement from the film great himself. "I knew there was only one man to play in it, James Arness," Wayne told viewers (watch video below). "He's a young fella and may be new to some of you. But I've worked with him, and I predict he'll be a big star. So you might as well get used to him, like you've had to get used to me."

The role of Marshal Dillon proved a complex one and became a focus of the show, but Arness is said to have pushed producers to move the focus off him and onto the large ensemble cast.

When 'Gunsmoke' ended in 1975, appeared a string of TV shows including the miniseries 'How The West Was Won' and in the early 1980s, turned leading man again in cop drama 'McClain's Law.'

He brought Matt Dillon back for five 'Gunsmoke' movies starting in 1987's 'Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge.'

Arness is survived by his wife, Janet, two sons and six grandchildren.

Tags: Gunsmoke, James Arness

Comments

(381)

Friday 03 June

By Ric

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My all time hero from my childhood is gone..RIP "MR.Dillon"...you were the BEST!

By BTDT

How very sad. Grew up watching this show. RIP Marshall.

By cheryl

I couldn't wait to see this show.... only a kid.... but, always claimed him as my daddy !! (my father died when I was only 2yr old)... My mother never remarried.)

By What?!

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Love the Gunsmoke show. Very clean. I miss clean shows that were produced during the 194os, 5os, and 6os.

By Laura Pandanell

I agree with you. He was the best. Husband has an autograhed picture of him hanging on the wall. God Bless and keep him.

By John

I met Doc, Festus, and Marshall Dillon on the train to the Colorado State Fair when I was 4(1964). They were all dressed in their costumes from Gunsmoke, and you have never seen such a thrilled 4vyear old in your life. Rest in Peace Jim.

By dal

Mathew I hate it when someone talks at me like my foots a sleep. Festus talking to Matt Dillon about someone question his intelligence. Rest In Peace James keep swinging punches from your ankles!

By Helen Brinson

I have had cowboy heros all my life. Next to Roy Rogers, James Arness was my hero of cowboys. I did love 'The Duke', make no mistake, but James Arness was just special to me. I mourn today along with all his wonderful fans. Not only did we loose a giant of a man in statue, but all he stood for, 'The Good Guys', morals and what was right. We have no such models like that left today. The best of the old west and the good cowboys died today with James Arness. We do have his legacy and wonderful works on the screen that will live on forever.

By Ms. Laura

Thank you, very well said. I was in love with this great giant for years growing up! What an icon of yesteryear.

Rest in peace, Mr. Arness
:(

By Mary

RIP James, seen him many time in Gunsmoke, and some movies. He will be missed.

By uscsrainman

Like John Wayne, you stayed on the right side of the law and uou whipped the bad guys.

By Linda Huthmaker

Amen to that!

By rig on rig out

John wayne was a boozier and Matt Dillion wasn't and he was truly straight as an arrow type sheriff with his mind always in the middle all the times... best gunfighter in his days.

By tony

rest in peace matt dillon.

By joe croce

he was the best there was
rest in peace Jim

By Doc

It's really sad to see all of my childhood heros go away but at least in this case perhaps he can have Graves next to his brother... ba-da-bum.

By james bridges

Ever the punster. the last words said by any human will be a pun. My prediction. Mark my words.

By miamiprep

Hard to be sad when someone lives to 88 & seems to have had a fulfilling life, and have a generous spirit, too.

By jmac

One of my favorites,we had lots of western shows to
watch on our two TV stations when I was a kid,and Gun
smoke was one of them.God Bless and rest in peace
James(Mr. Dillon).

By joe

Sad. Also sad is the way the article was written. Many words missing in the sentences. How about proofreading the copy before publishing?

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