James Arness: Rides off into the Sunset

 James Arness best known for his role playing Marshall Matt Dillion has passed away last Friday.  I remember my grandfather setting around the black and white TV waiting for "Gunsmoke".   The show started in 1955 and was the longest running western series on TV.    “What made us different from other westerns,” Mr. Arness told the Associated Press in 2002, “was the fact that ‘Gunsmoke’ wasn’t just action and a lot of shooting; they were character-study shows.  ”He presided over Dodge City with a sense of Fairness and honesty.   Mr. Arness, who was recommended for the role of Matt Dillon by his friend John Wayne, was the center of an ensemble that included Milburn Stone as the gentle, scholarly Doc Adams; Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell — “Miss Kitty” — who ran the Long Branch saloon; and Dennis Weaver as Mr. Arness’s limping deputy sidekick, Chester Goode. After Weaver left the show in 1964, Ken Curtis joined the cast as the memorable comic character, Festus Haggen.  

James was born in Minneapolis in 1923. 

Arness worked in a number of menial jobs such as delivery, loading and unloading railway boxes, and logging in Idaho in pre-WWII years. He was called for the Army and began military service in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in March 1943, serving as a rifleman with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division. He was severely wounded during Operation Shingle, at Anzio, Italy, and, after several surgeries, was honorably discharged in 1945.

James Arness was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, The European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

After returning to civilian life, he began his career as a radio announcer in Minnesota in 1945 and soon appeared in his first film with Loretta Young in The Farmer’s Daughter (1947).   He was an Indian scout in "Hondo" starring John Wayne from 1953.  James also played the alien monster in some of the best Science Fiction films of the fifties "The Thing" from 1951 and "Them" from 1954.  At 6 ft 7 in tall he was more believable as the monster from "The Thing".   He worked with many stars performers over the years including "John Wayne", "Bette Davis", "Harrison Ford",  "Burt Renolds",  and "Charles Bronson" along with many others. 

Mr Arness was Peter Graves Older brother, Peter Graves was the star of "Mission Impossible" and the comic "Airplane movies".  Mr Graves passed away last year at age 83. 

Here is the letter that James Arness left for his fans.

  "I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife, Janet. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is," Arness wrote.
"I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of 'Gunsmoke,' 'The Thing,' 'How the West Was Won' and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.
"I was honored to have served in the army for my country. I was at Anzio during WWII and it makes you realize how very precious life is," Arness wrote.
"Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails and gifts we received from you over the years. You are and always have been truly appreciated," he concluded.


Mr Arness will best be remembered as The honest Marshall "Matt Dillion" who was gentle, polite and morally unshakable.  The Marshall enforced justice in Dodge City one episode at a time.
James was the Marshall  on "Gunsmoke" from 1955 to 1975, but it was always 1873 in Dodge City Kansas.   You could just set back in front of the old TV set every week with family or friends.  You where taken back to when the West was still wild and see a great story on "Gunsmoke". 
"Gunsmoke" can still be seen on the "Encore Western channel".

Do you have any memories of James Arness as Matt Dillion on"Gunsmoke", "The Thing", "Them", Hondo or any other favorite movies?