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 S. Young

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"The Thing" was the all time scariest movie for me back in the 50's as a 10 year old.

By Jim Borden

My family and I watched you from the first Gun Smoke show in 1955 for twenty years and now we enjoy you in reruns on Direct TV Western Chan.& TVLD Chan. 304. You were ahead of your time and if we had shows like yours today our country wouldn't be in the shape it is in. You as John Wayne said are one of a kind. We will all miss you more than words can say. RIP MR. Dillon

By cowlick

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rip and try to keep festus in line

he would have never shot anybody in their pjs even bin laden

By Gregor

Boy...the old guard's disappearing faster than a bottle of Louie Xlll @ an AA convention, sorry to say.
As kids we watched Arness play the part of Matt Dillon, in GunSmoke, and other shows over the years. James Arness's personna was a magnet for many and in my opinion, was well thought of by myself and by his many fans.
God Rest Your 6ft.7 Soul James

By Mike

Aww shoot. I remember Gunsmoke from when i was a kid. I was a big fan of him and that show. I didn't know it started in 1955 though. I watched it in the late 60's and 70's. RIP Sheriff Dillon

By Leo

James Arness is an icon of huge proportions. His roll as Matt Dillon, on the show 'Gunsmoke', will forever be one of the great characters in American TV history. Arness will live on with the reruns of the show, and he will never be forgotten. RIP

By casjane1

We've lost so many of our good actors. They will never be replaced. Our new people just don't measure up to them. They broke the mold when they made these guys. Gods speed Jim.

By Sunni

What a sad day! He was one of the true great actors that I watched as a kid. My whole family loved him and we never missed an episode of Gunsmoke.

Where I live they hold a western festival dedicated to Matt Dillion and Gunsmoke every year in August. Some other old western TV shows are also highlighted and some of the old actors make a special appearance. They even have a Gunsmoke set that was used in some of the filming and you can take a tour of that.

Matt, you will be truly missed. May you rest in peace. Many blessings to your family in this hard time.

Always a fan,
Sunni

Saturday 04 June

By DM

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Where do you live that has the Gunsmoke festival. When is it?

By keith

I grew up watching Gunsmoke -- and as a small child even copied the way he walked (when I played cowboys!) A part of him never left me.
Keith

By charles brown

RIP Matt Dillon.
They forgot to mention your best deputy,Festus, played by Ken Curtis.
I can remember living in Cincinnati when the restaurants installed tv's to show Gunsmoke on Saturday evenings because prior to that Gunsmoke was killing their business.
What a great show and what a wonderful cast.
I will watch the reruns forever.
I have shown them to my adult kids and explained that Gunsmoke was just a shoot em up western but always had a good story line.
You had Kitty who had been run out of several towns for card cheating, Doc Adams who had some problems loosing some patients,
and other people like them who were always protected by Matt Dillon so long as they played it straight.

By torchy4

Marhall-everybodys now at the Longbranch saloon-RIP Mr.Dillon

By sally

This is a sad day for me I love you James Arness "Marshall" You were the best! RIP!

By lshaft

You have entertained generations of Americans - Rest in Peace Masrshal Dillon and let Kitty, Doc and Festus know they are dearly misses as well.

By weather53

One of the great ones

By cherokeefoxfire

James Arness was a Great actor. He will be missed. Rest In Peace

By Millie

A wonderful actor, loved Gunsmoke! Still watching daily on Encore Western Channel. Rest In Peace, Mr. Arness.

One of the great ones.

By R O C K Y

HE WILL SORELY MISSED. I ENJOYED THE PARTS HIS BROTHER PLAYED AND NOW IT SEEMS I WILL BE A BIT LONELY WITHOUT VIEWING THE RERUNS OF GUNSSMOKE WITHOUT JAMES. IT HURTS THE SOLE AND MIND OF MANY OF US 'CAUSE THEY BROUGHT SO MUCH ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY. I MISSED THE WOMAN WHO PLAYED MISS KITTY AND NOW I WLL MISS HIM ALSO. REST IN PEACE JAMES......I WILL REALLY MISS YOU...

By Patty

My mother loved him and I watched all of the GunSmoke shows. RIP

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