HWOF

James Arness

Source: celebritiesfans.com

James Arness is an Emmy-nominated American actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke for 20 years. Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in five separate decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in the decade of the 1980s in the 1987 film Return to Dodge, and four more made-for-TV Gunsmoke movies in the 1990s. As an aside, Arness is the older brother to actor Peter Graces and is the tallest actor ever to play a lead role, standing 6 feet 7 inches.

Before Arness ignited his film and television career, Arness served as a rifleman in the United States Army during World War II with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division. Some of his military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

In addition to the many Westerns Arness starred in, he is also remembered for appearing in two science fiction films, The Thing from Another World (in which he portrayed a malevolent alien being) and Them!. He was a close friend of John Wayne and co-starred with him in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky and The Sea Chase. After Gunsmoke ended, Arness performed primarily in western-themed movies and television series, including the 1977 television series How the West Was Won.

• Born: James King Aurness May 26, 1923 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
• Died: June 3, 2011 (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Cause of death: Natural causes
• Resting place: Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
• Residence: Brentwood, Los Angeles, California
• Nationality: American
• Education: Washburn High School
• Alma mater: Beloit College
• Occupation: Actor
• Years active: 1947–94
• Home town: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Television: Gunsmoke, How the West Was Won
• Spouse: Virginia Chapman (m. 1948–60, divorced) Janet Surtees (m. 1978–2011, his death)
• Children: 3 sons (1 deceased) Daughter (deceased)
• Relatives: Peter Graves (brother, deceased)

Read more about James Arness at Wikipedia or at the Internet Movie Database

Kelsey Grammer rules supreme on Starz drama 'Boss' (AP)
Yahoo Entertainment, 2011-11-09 15:06:09
AP - It goes without saying, Kelsey Grammer had a spectacular run as pompous but goodhearted Dr. Frasier Crane, scoring critical and popular success in a sitcom role whose duration is matched in TV annals only by James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke" a generation earlier.

James Arness of 'Gunsmoke' fame dies at 88 (omg!)
Yahoo Entertainment, 2011-06-04 02:58:47
omg! - James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over the television landscape for two decades as righteous Dodge City lawman Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke," died Friday. (June 3)

Video: Remembering "Gunsmoke" actor James Arness
CBS Entertainment Ne, 2011-06-03 23:41:35
Actor James Arness, famous for playing the lawman Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke," died at the age of 88 in Brentwood, California. Bill Whitaker takes a look back at his life and career.