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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 Aurness May 26, 1923 (age 87) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
• Occupation: Actor
• Years active: 1947–1994
• Spouse(s): Virginia Chapman (1948-1960) Janet Surtrees (1978-present)

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

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