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 BeerBelly

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Who gives a crap...are you so intellectually superior you couldn't understand the words?

Please go back to Mt. Olympus and leave us alone.

By Apple

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I agree. The writer was in a rush.

By s

Typical Pop Eater writing. They think that spell check is all they need to proof articles.

By GG

You are 100% right, Joe. And, to that moron "Beerbelly," have another beer and shut up.

God bless you, Mr. Arness. Thanks.

By Linda Huthmaker

Having been a Journalism student, in high school, and college, I am particularly bothered by the fact that no 'proofreadiing' is done, anymore. Even the newspapers are flawed, in that respect.
Sad!

By Tracy

That was my first thought. Does anyone know how to spell and use proper grammar anymore. What kind of people work for these guys. Go back to school and learn how to write, or at least use spell and grammar check.

By Aboona Joe

I agree. I had to keep rereading one of the sentences until I realized it was NEVER going to make sense as written!

By Tom

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Real writers and journalists do not work on the celebrity beat.

By ken

I loved watching gun smoke as a kid...still love!
RIP Marshall Dillion

By Eve4522

I am so sorry to hear this he was truly an icon for me watched him as a child and still watching him. God Bless his family and may he RIP.

By Don Hall

Matt Dillon was a big part of my childhood. My father never missed a show.
Although my father was long gone,I named my son "Matthew" in deference to my father's hero.
Years ago I advised Mr. Arness of this on his website and received a nice reply.

RIP Marshall Dillon

By Carla Inzina

Oh how I loved this show. I remember we never ever missed an episode.... He will be missed by many friends and family. Gunsmoke will live on. REST IN PEACE Mr. James Arness. I am and will always be a huge fan of yours. Respectfully, Carla Inzina From Bastrop, La.

By cliff

Carla,

Good to see and hear from someone from my neck of the woods. I am from Collinston, La, Gun Smoke was one of my favorite programs also. All the good ones seems to be leaving us. I think his brother, Peter Graves was pretty cool in the Airplane movies.

By Joe Kortis

I must be old. Told my niece that Matt Dillon died and they thought it was the actor. I did not know there was an actor named Matt Dillion.

By mykalt

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ya that other matt dillon in some movies has lived by the sixpack.

By populer7

We have truly lost an american ICON. You won't be forgotten James Arness aka Matt Dillion.

By paul

i must have watched "the thing" a thousand times

The thing was one of the few flicks that scared the hell out of me as a kid.The scene where they open the door inside of the housing station and he (the thing) was on the other side growls and swings his arm at them Ill never forget.

By James W. Hachey

There goes the last of the great gunslingers from the old west. Ride on in Heaven with your brother Peter Graves. They will never be able to replace you.

By Rob

I'm sure glad someone remembered that they were brothers. Apparently the writer of the article was not very thorough in their homework.

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