James Arness with his first wife Virginia Chapman Surtees worked about six to seven years with the lady, during which time she was told about their adventures. In an interview with the Santa Clarita Signal, Arness said his co-stars never stood on anything to make them look taller in shots they shared with him on Gunsmoke. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. Before he let go of it, though, James Arness and his family got plenty of use out of the ranch. Obviously, Janet accepted. The move was a fulfilling one for Chapman, who started a motel service opened to all in California because she believed integration could only happen when white people, especially those at the top, stepped forward to mix with the black society. | Source: Getty Images. We just started talking, and he was a skier, and I was into skiing.". In 1943, James received his draft notice, joining the army and training. Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. Learn how your comment data is processed. He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. Janet Surtees Arness is. At the time of his death, James was married to his second wife, Janet Surtees; the couple married in 1978. Required fields are marked *. Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. "The kids don't really have any part of my television life," he remarked after the divorce. Arness was sent to General Hospital at Clinton Iowa during the time by the U.S. Army because of his short height where he was the 1st one offered to have a landing craft for the determination of the complexity of the water. One of the most amazing actors of all time, and also a man over whom there always remained millions of crushes, James Garner, was born on April 7, 1928. ne Mans Justice, a made-for-TV movie, featuring (from top) Bruce Boxleitner (as Davis Healy) and James Arness (as Matt Dillon). The actor added, he had the privilege of working with numerous great actors over the years. James Arness Had Two Relationships Afterward Arness later found love in Thordis Brand. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Yet, they went their separate ways in the end. Many delicious foods and drinks were provided, including cheese, crackers, bread, wine, and much more. Moreover, He was the tallest leading man in Hollywood by the time. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). James Arness was first married in 1948 to Virginia Chapman. Janet described meeting Arness after he had already begun filming Gunsmoke in an interview with A Word on Westerns. Arness might be known for Gunsmoke, but that was hardly the only thing he did. Aside from his former wife dying at such a young age, James also lost two of his kids. Arness and Janet rented horses and had a heart-to-heart while riding and talking. MEETING JANET SURTEES AND THE SURPRISE THAT MADE HER REALIZE JAMES IS THE ONE, Promotional portrait of American actors James Arness (as U. S. Marshal Matt Dillon0 (foreground) and Buck Taylor (as Newly O'Brien) from the television series 'Gunsmoke,' 1970.| Source: Getty Images. John Wayne suggested Arness for the role of Matt Dillon. Ethnicity White ProfessionActor Nationality American Active Year1947-1994 Eye colour Hazel Hair colour Brown BuildAverage SpouseVirginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. So, even after 33 years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the Hollywood actors wife. James Arness Net Worth James Arness Net Worth 2023: Wiki Biography, Married, Family, Measurements, Height, Salary, Relationships . Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many others all featured Arness in lead roles. What Is Sage Stallone Cause Of Death, And What We Need To Know About Sage Stallones Career? Who Is Ashton Kutcher Married To? From 1955 to 1975, he starred in the weekly series "Gunsmoke." Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. He was a rifleman and served in the Battle of Anzio with the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (function(d) { In addition, he was married to his wife,Daphne, and had two children, Holly and Brian. Located on 1,400 acres of land in Simi Valley, California, the Gunsmoke star's former ranch is owned by the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. You are and always have been truly appreciated.. We obtain this information from publically accessible sources and endeavor to make sure it's correct. In 1978, James Arness married Janet Surtees and she remained with him before his death. He died at the age of 88. She grew up with her siblings Rolf Aurness and Craig Aurness who was adopted. Here is a look at his life and career. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. However, the couple split in 1963 for reasons that were not known. Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. After their divorce, his father James was granted legal custody of the children. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978) A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. Arness said he still watched Gunsmoke after retiring. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive from this page is correct. His father belonged to Norwegian ancestry whereas his mother's belonged to German. Arness achieved cult status thanks to his portrayal of Zeb Macahan in the western series titledHow the West Was Won. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. And then it'd be a different show." "They'd say that would ruin it," Byrnes confirms. But Arness usually stated that his height was 6 feet 6 inches in the regular newspaper and TV interviews. The Macahans on setfor the episode aired on January 19, 1976. To know all the details about James Arnesss life including his bio, wiki, net worth, salary, and personal life, read this article till the end. James Arness was best known for starring Marshal Matt Dillon for twenty years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. His net worth was estimated to be $8 million. He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. He initially worked as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler as a high school student. Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of the tallest leading men of his era. James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. However, her sons love for Gunsmoke convinced her to go. As of June 3, 2011, James Arnesss life had ended at the age of 88. Their marriage lasted 15 years until they divorced in 1963. They were last married in 1978 to Janet Surtees. After the separation, Arness got legalcustody of their children. Gunsmoke actor James Arness died on 3rd June 2011, leaving behind a letter he wanted to be released after his death. He and Peter participated in the Second World War, but unfortunately, he didn't leave the battlefield uninjured. Surtees was reluctant, but her son was a "Gunsmoke" fan, so she went just so she could tell him she had met his favorite actor. Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. Then, after three years, his younger brother Peter was born. He had an insatiable appetite. So I thought, Well, okay, Ill meet Jim and tell my son I met him,' said Janet. Moreover, in theEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, he won three bronze battle stars. His younger brother Peter Greaves used the stage name "Graves" which was a maternal family name. Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. James Arness, famous as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, "Gunsmoke," was born to Rolf Aurness and Ruth Duesler Graves. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. He drifted around Mexico for some time; then, he returned to Hollywood with a burning desire to become an actor. Source; Getty Images They had been together for six years. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. The actor passed away at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, at his Brentwood home. And it was great. One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually became CBSs most important actor overall. "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. He was 88. (Humorous pause). James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. He was also listed as the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 at 1751 Vine Street. Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. Arness portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. Then there was a knock at the door. He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood Brentwood, Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. But I never met him. James's make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. Your health is important to us. He completed his high school in June 1942. He had a young brother named Peter who later gained fame as an actor named Peter Graves. He went on to star in a few more Western-themed programs after Dodge City was canceled, but he eventually made his way back to the role of Dillon in a series of television movies released in the early 90s. How The Actor Died. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. He was also a sensitive and loving man and husband. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. As a result, he played a role in getting Arness to accept the role of Matt on Gunsmoke, the show that would prove to be the pinnacle of his career. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. James Arness was divorced from From 1955 through 1975, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the Western drama Gunsmoke. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 - June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke.Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made-for-television Gunsmoke films . Peter Graves, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother. Arness died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, a family spokesman said at the time. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. David Spade Net Worth: How Many Houses Does He Have? In 1948 he married Virginia Chapman and adopted her child from Craig's previous marriage. As of 2022, James Arnesss net worth was $10 million. Image date July 23, 1955.| Source: Getty Images. Isn't James and Janet's relationship adorable? pictures of jenny lee arness. Of course, she was charmed by his politeness and friendliness, so they got to talking. Janet remarked, After we were through, what had truly struck me about Jim was he stood up and he picked up all the trash that had been left on the ground by people who had camped there before and he put it in his saddlebag. He tidied up the entire area, and I thought, Now, thats a cool man. He even worked as a radio announcer before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. When Graves decided to pursue acting professionally, he adopted the surname 'Graves' to honor his mother's family. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. Then on December 16, 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. They led a happily married life since their nuptials, supporting each other through thick and thin until the actor's passing in 2011. Arness and Surtees were married from 1978 to up until his death in 2011. They say its not a matter in what field you are engaged, if you are working hard with equal dedication, you will definitely gain both name and fame. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet with a laugh. After he divorced Chapman, he married an actress . James Arness' role as Marshal Matt Dillon made him an iconic hero to millions all over the world. He is father of Three(Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, Jenny Lee Aurness). She was nervous about having dinner with the actor, but they ended up getting along great. They found out they had a common interest in skiing, and it led to a date at an old miners' cabin he owned. He was an infantryman and was wounded in the battle of Anzio, Italy, but his brother was posted to the Army Air Force which later became a separate branch of the U.S. military. Notably, James gained massive popularity when he took on the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS Television series "Gunsmoke," a role he played for 20 years. James Arness was one of the most prominent television personalities in the 1950s up until the 1990s in the United States. }; James Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948. JAMES MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE, AND TOGETHER THEY WELCOMED THREE KIDS, Virginia Arness and James Arness at home. I had been in about four pictures for his company with him. James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. (Arness would later say that Matt's only onscreen kiss was in that episode, "Matt's Love Story," but Kitty did in fact kiss him once.) Her mother Virginia died of a drug overdose in 1977. When Arness. James Arness was married twice in his life. Your email address will not be published. Are you a James Arness fan? Janet was working for a clothing store owned by the wife of Jims make-up artist. He is a big guy, and He was very polite," sherecallsof meeting James. After the end of his first marriage, James exchanged his wedding vows with Janet Surtees. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. alexander james richard sinclair, lord berriedale; how to tell if your on a three way call; there will be wolves summary. He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Rolf and Jimmy; and six grandchildren. He met her four years after his divorce from Chapman and dated her for six years. 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