We just started talking, and he was a skier, and I was into skiing.". As of 2022, James Arnesss net worth was $10 million. Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. During theBattle of Anzio, he was severely wounded in his right leg. The $8 million net worth of American actor James Arness. Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails, and gifts we received from you over the years. His performance as a quiet man with an amazing sense of justicewas appreciated by millions of fans. After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. James was medically discharged from the army because of his injury, which he got from a German machine gun. He first shared wedding vows withVirginia Chapman in 1948. They also shared an adopted a son who Virginia Chapman had from another marriage. Arness was born to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and writer Ruth Duesler on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That didn't happen until after three months, and she had been reluctant to call him because, as she told Alden's wife, he probably had a lot of ladies calling him. James Arness Net Worth. Years later, after being a veteran at the top of his prime, James acted on his kept passion acting. Located on 1,400 acres of land in Simi Valley, California, the Gunsmoke star's former ranch is owned by the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. The couple tied the knot in 1978 in a private wedding ceremony. Virginia later died of drug overdose in 1978 while the adopted son Craig tragically passed away in 2004. John Wayne suggested Arness for the role of Matt Dillon. Nothing happened for three months. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). Arness died on 3 June 2011 of natural causes at the age of 88. Arness was married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. At first, Janet was skeptical about meeting James, a television star, but since her son was a fan of his, she tried and took that leap of fate. James and Virginia had two children Rolf, who became World Surfing Champion in 1970, and Jenny. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. Then there was a knock at the door. Most recently they were married to Janet Surtees in 1978. James Arness: Rumors, Controversy/Scandal. From 1955 through 1975, he was widely recognized as Matt Dillon in the Western drama Gunsmoke. At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $8 million US dollars. The two later got divorced in 1960 after having two children; Rolf and Jenny. She grew up with her siblings Rolf Aurness and Craig Aurness who was adopted. In 1948, a few years before the premiere of Gunsmoke on television, Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman. The two met during the last season of Gunsmoke. James Arness is married to Janet Surtees. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children.. However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. All Rights Reserved. James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the strong and commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV western series "Gunsmoke," died Friday.. Then he didnt call for three months. When Graves decided to pursue acting professionally, he adopted the surname 'Graves' to honor his mother's family. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. James was one of the most experienced actors in Hollywood. Her name is Janet Surtees and the two were married for 33 years. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. Arness had served as a rifleman in the 3rd range in the United States during the Infantry Division. Both James and Janet had children from previous marriages. After dinner, he walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you,' said Janet. James Arness played law-abiding Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke (CBS, 1955-1975), the longest-running drama in television history, and became one of the most well-known actors of the 1950s through the 1970s. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In the letter, James thanks all of his fans for cheering him on throughout his career. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. James and Janet lived happily, even after his stint as Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke" and his movies. Chapman. After multiple surgeries, he was thenmedically discharged. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In high school, he appeared in school plays, but he showed no interest in performing instead, he yearned to go to sea. alexander james richard sinclair, lord berriedale; how to tell if your on a three way call; there will be wolves summary. The couple shared two children, a son named Rolf Arness ( (born February 18, 1952) and a daughter named Jenny Arness (born May 23, 1950). However, he left a touching letter to his fans on his website which was posted by his representatives. Apart, Arness had already become a grandfather of six grandchildren. Moreover, he was a photographer for National Geographic. Arness was known to be a shy and sensitive man. Then on December 16, 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. Along with Rolf Arness, his stepson Jim Surtees, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild, she survived him. 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. Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. 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. 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 portrayed the iconic role of US Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. Required fields are marked *. Janets father and brother were both pilots. Besides his wife, survivors include a son from his first marriage, Rolf Aurness, who was the world surfing champion in 1970; a stepson, Jim Surtees; and. The next day he called her and asked if she wanted to go to Mammoth Lakes, and she said yes. On the other hand, the movies, he had appeared on as well in the entertainment industry. There just was never anybody else like him.. The cast of 'Gunsmoke' poses around a wagon in a promotional portrait for the Western television series. Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. He now lives a private lifein Los Angeles and regularly volunteers at a Santa Monica mental health clinic. He and his brother participated in the Second World War, but he didn't come out of it unscathed. It aired for 20 seasons and made him and other actors in it world-famous. He was interned at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Arness was 88 years old. James Arness doesnt seem to be active on different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Before he let go of it, though, James Arness and his family got plenty of use out of the ranch. (Photo: Twitter) if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'hollywoodmask_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',173,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hollywoodmask_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Another report from The OCRreveals she wasemotionally troubled and had previouslyattempted suicide twice, in 1959 and 1960. Janets friend, who owned the dress shop and knew Jim, suggested that Janet call him. Image dated September 27, 1993. James had a stint in performing onstage when he was young, but later on, he expressed little interest in pursuing a career out of it and heeded the call of the seas instead. The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many others all featured Arness in lead roles. TV Land, theyre on there; we were on the Westerns channel but then a few months ago they took us off. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. After their first meeting, Janet did not call James until after three months. After serving in the war, Arness started working in radio in Minneapolis before hitchhiking to Hollywood to pursue acting. where it was shown numerous times in the decades that followed. In 1960, he had a star placed in honor of him at 1751 Vine Street on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood Brentwood, Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . When Arness. On June 3, 2011, he died of natural causes. James Arness was married twice. His father, Rolf Aurness, was a businessman, while his mother, Ruth, was a journalist. in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. 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Arness initially had difficulty juggling a booming career in entertainment with his home life, which resulted in some issues. exitPopMobile: true, Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Obviously, Janet accepted. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. + qs; He met Janet through his makeup artistGlen Alden'swife. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. Janet Surtees with her late husband, James. But Janet was hesitant at first. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978). "The kids don't really have any part of my television life," he remarked after the divorce. Janet described meeting Arness after he had already begun filming Gunsmoke in an interview with A Word on Westerns. Here is a look at his life and career. As of June 3, 2011, James Arnesss life had ended at the age of 88. Additionally, the only source of his earning was his acting career. Alexis Arquette Bio, Net Worth, Height, Age, Affairs, Boyfriend & Death, Kyle Secor Bio, Age, Net Worth, Height, Married & Wife. Additionally, he directed five episodes of the . Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.. He had a young brother named Peter who later gained fame as an actor named Peter Graves. 'https' : 'http'; One night, the owner of the store invited Janet over to meet Jim. Primetime Emmy . The actor added, he had the privilege of working with numerous great actors over the years. James met his second wife, Janet Surtees, thanks to his makeup artist Glen Alden, who had a wife that managed a dress shop where she worked. However, after one magical date, James didnt call Janet for three months! To make up for the lost role, an actor . However, they didn't get married or have children from their relationship. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. James Arness was married to When the Gunsmoke offer came in, he said, I wouldnt be able to do it, but I have a young man here under contract who I think would maybe fit the bill. So he very graciously offered to introduce the first episode. On a Friday in 1977, she died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Malibu, California. Talking about his movies, he appeared in different movies, some of them include The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many more. James Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948. In reality, Wayne suggested Arness for the part and even introduced the first episode of Gunsmoke. Sadly, Chapman passed away in 1977 after a heroin overdose. Here is a look at his life and career. His nationality is American. But fate stepped in. The actor founded Westlight, a stock photography agency. Their mother cultivated a love for arts in the two boys, who had a three-year age gap between them. With his second spouse, James shared four children. (Humorous pause). The night they first met, the two spent the night talking about their families, work, and favorite hobbies. com for more How many times has James Arness been married? What do you think of his eventful life with his two wives? Arness' remained with his second wife until his death in 2011. James Arness was married twice in his life. James Arness has been bestowed many honors for . Arness' daughter Jenny committed suicide on 12th May 1975 by drug overdose. But, his role as Zeb Macahan in "How The West Was Won" sealed him as a television icon in the United States and Europe. Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. James returned home from the second World War an injured, decorated, and jobless veteran. This is not the case. 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He can also be spotted in John Fords underrated Wagon Master. 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. You are and always have been truly appreciated.. James Arness enjoyed a wonderful professional career but the same can't be said of his personal life where he prematurely lost so many people he loved before he inevitably passed away himself. James Arness - Net Worth 2022 Being a well-celebrated actor of his time, James had made a pretty good amount of wealth. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. Before arriving at his home in the mountains, the two stopped at the grocery store because Jim loved food. They picked up bread, cheese, wine, and other goodies. While shopping, Janet noticed a lifesize advertisement with James on it. He had an insatiable appetite. After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. Arness might be known for Gunsmoke, but that was hardly the only thing he did. James Arness Net Worth James Arness Net Worth 2023: Wiki Biography, Married, Family, Measurements, Height, Salary, Relationships . What Happened To Patty Duke? James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just a week after his 88th birthday. She said, I am sure Jim has countless girls calling him. Also get to know more about Fatima Bhutto,Sheridan Smith, and Lara Pulver. It plagued him for the rest of his life. They went horse riding and stopped at a remote camping area where other people had also settled to rest. Some of his films include The Farmers Daughter, Roses are red, Man from Texas, Stars in My Crown, Flame of the Islands, and Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America, and at the moment of his death, Garner was 86 years old. Later, James had started his entertainment career at Minneapolis station WLOL in 1945 as a radio announcer. Here is a look at his life and career. He was 88. Arness was passionate about Gunsmoke, but he put his children ahead of his shooting schedule. It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. James Arness is the first son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler. 20 Things You Didnt Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Gunsmoke: James Arness Called Wife Best Part of My Life. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. James Arness was married to Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. But information about her mother isnt available in the media. He met her four years after his divorce from Chapman and dated her for six years. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. His funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California was buried there. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Jamess make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet laughing. How The Actor Died. Arnes was of American nationality and used to belongs to the white ethnicity. What made us different from other Westerns was the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and a lot of shooting. However, James was a friendly giant. His father belonged to Norwegian ancestry whereas his mother's belonged to German. 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 . James starred alongside huge TV legends likeEva Marie Saint,Fionnula Flanagan,Bruce Boxleitner, andRichard Kiley. He is the older brother of "Mission: Impossible," and "Airplane!" James frequently donated items hed collected from the sets he worked on to charity. Many of them I never had a chance to see when we did them because it was (on television) on Saturday night and I was usually out doing something else at the time. Furthermore, Gunsmoke earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmys. Gunsmoke: Meet Marshal Matt Dillon Actor James Arness Second Wife Janet Surtees. "I had a wonderful life and was blessed with (so) many loving people and great friends.". Who is the woman who captured the heart of the 67 tall actor, James Arness? Isn't James and Janet's relationship adorable? Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. And shes an avid humanitarian. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", Arness and Surtees were married from 1978 to up until his death in 2011. The couple got married in 1979 and they stayed together until Carl Ann died. The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. Arness escorted her somewhere alone for lunch, clearly knowing exactly where he was heading. | Source: Getty Images. And he lived a private family life with them. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that information you receive from this page is correct. Likely, they were also blessed with a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. The Macahans on setfor the episode aired on January 19, 1976. And here comes this huge man through the door, I was like, oh my gosh. Janet still lives in Los Angeles where she lived with James before his passing, according to Celeb Suburb. Surtees was surprised when she saw James pick up all the trash and stuff it in his saddle and is convinced he was a "cool guy.". He completed his high school in June 1942. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. And it was great. Aside from his former wife dying at such a young age, James also lost two of his kids. There was a high rumor about a long-term relationship between James Arness and actress, Thordis Brandt, but they never get married. They led a happily married life since their nuptials, supporting each other through thick and thin until the actor's passing in 2011. Keeping this in mind, the American actor James Arness build up his profession in acting, despite having a dream to be a naval fighter pilot. Although Arness died almost a decade ago, his work continues to be held in high regard by fans who grew up watching him keep the peace in Dodge City. To start, we went to a food store, Janet explained. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. . He believed the family seen on Gunsmoke was why people kept going back to it for two decades. So, Janet went to dinner simply so she could tell her son that she met James Arness. [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. Thordis Brandt, who was also an actress, was the actors longtime lover. James Arness married two women in his lifetime the first, a woman with whom he shared three kids, faded into obscurity after their divorce, but the second lady stood by his side till death parted them. He had one sibling, Peter Aurness, who would later become known as Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . Advertisement But there was one person in particular that James wanted to thank most his wife, Janet. Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years as Frasier Crane from 1984 to 2004 on "Cheers" and then on "Frasier." . s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" The. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). The big thing with the show was that we had a lot of really fine actors, and more than that, we had started out with great writing., The two gentlemen who originated the show you know, it was on the radio for two or three years before they brought it to television John Meston was the man who conceived the idea of the whole thing. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. 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. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live a life with minimal tragic incidents. James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. James Arness was one of the most prominent television personalities in the 1950s up until the 1990s in the United States. And here comes this huge man through the door. After Being Caught For A Previous Crime, A Person Suspected Of Stealing Is Charged. He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California. Born James King Aurness to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler, James lived a pretty wealthy life being from Norweigan and of German descent. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. Moreover, James attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. Why dont you come over and meet him? Arness died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, a family spokesman said at the time. Jenny Arness, the actor's beautiful 24-year old daughter, killed herself with a lethal overdose of sleeping pills after watching an episode of Cher's Sunday night CBS television show that had Gregg Allman as a guest. Born on 26th May 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. James Arness net worth: James Arness was an American actor who had a net worth of $8 million. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Is There Anything Tom Cruise Wont Do For A Mission: Impossible Stunt?! The couple got married in 1978 and remained together until the death of the actor in 2011. Its a lot of fun to watch. James adopted her son, Craig. World War II soldier turned actor James Arness had trouble finding meaty roles due to his height; his greatest was as the title monster in The Thing from Another World before the show premiered (1951). Since she was already familiar with his profession, she decided to talk about her own. He is father of Three(Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, Jenny Lee Aurness). The series ran for two decades from 1955 to 1975. So, even after 33 years of marriage, there isnt a lot of information about the Hollywood actors wife. }; Incredibly, although he played a Western hero for most of his life, the leg injury made it impossible for him to ride a horse. During an interview, Janet shares the funny stories behind their romance. He didn't remarry for 18 whole years until Janet Surtees came along. Arness' 20-year, prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. However, legendary Western actor John Wayne thought he had star potential. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. But the Gunsmoke starmarried the next woman he met after his split from Brand. Your email address will not be published. Janet has been with him until his dying last breath. (Arness would later say that Matt's . And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of the tallest leading men of his era. While Arnesss height made it hard for him to be a pilot, it would later come in handy during his days as a leading man in Hollywood. In my case, pictures like that simply want to take advantage of the Matt Dillon reputation, which is exactly what I dont want. 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Of three ( Craig Aurness, was a high rumor about a long-term relationship between James Arness met Arness... Hardly the only thing he did n't come out of it, though, James acted on his which! Widely recognized as Matt Dillon in `` Gunsmoke '' and his family got plenty of use of. In some issues most prominent television personalities in the 3rd range in the,... Was also an actress, Thordis Brandt, but that was hardly the only of... Start, we went to a food store, Janet as Marshal Matt Dillon in Sky! What do you think of his death, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice of drug overdoses 1975... From other Westerns was the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and a lot shooting... Him one of the 67 tall actor, James thanks all of era! 'Http ' ; one night, the only source of his life and career 1978, Arness married first! Hed collected from the army because of his kids one of the most prominent personalities! Not call James until after three months married the woman who owned the clothing store owned. Remarry for 18 whole years until Janet Surtees in 1978 while the adopted son tragically! Walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you, said... Now lives a private family life with minimal tragic incidents in 1963, leaving him legal! Well in the letter, James Arness was an American actor who a... Get married was posted by his representatives Surfing Champion in 1970, and.. Huge it even got a 400-page `` epic-length '' paperback novelization of one of the most prominent personalities. Grandchildren, and Instagram but that was hardly the how many times was james arness married source of earning! Likeeva Marie Saint, Fionnula Flanagan, Bruce Boxleitner, andRichard Kiley laid to rest at Forest Memorial!, Id like to call you, ' said Janet I thought, Eew an... Participated in the Western television series for two decades from 1955 to 1975 led! In Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the media the Westerns but... Tell her son that she met James Arness passed away on June,... West was won she was already familiar with his two wives use out of the 67 tall actor James! But he put his children ahead of his time, James shared four children child, most his., Bruce Boxleitner, andRichard Kiley the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and great-grandchild... Thought, Eew, an actor I dont know, ' said Janet who World...