James King Arness American actor Date of Birth: 26.05.1923 Country: USA

Biography of James King Arness

James King Arness was an American actor, best known for his role as Matt Dillon in the television series "Gunsmoke." He portrayed this character for 20 years, from 1955 to 1975. In 1987, he reprised his role in the film "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge," and in the 1990s, he appeared in four made-for-television movies based on the series. In Europe, Arness is more recognized for his role as Zeb Macahan in the western "How the West Was Won."

James was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and changed his original surname, Aurness, at the beginning of his acting career. His father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness, was a Norwegian businessman, while his mother, Ruth Duesler, was a German journalist. His younger brother, Peter, also became an actor and used their mother's maiden name, Graves.

While attending school, Arness worked as a courier and a laborer. He had aspirations of becoming a military pilot, but his vision problems prevented him from pursuing that path. Additionally, his height of over 6 feet disqualified him from pilot training, as the maximum height requirement was 6'2". Despite these setbacks, Arness found a place in the U.S. Army as an infantryman.

During World War II, James participated in combat and was seriously injured during the Battle of Anzio in Italy as part of Operation Shingle. After undergoing several surgeries, he was sent back home on January 29, 1945. Although he never fully recovered from his wartime injuries and experienced chronic leg pain for the rest of his life, Arness received several prestigious military awards, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

After leaving the army, Arness enrolled in college and secured a position as a radio host in Minnesota in 1945. However, his true fame came later when he hitchhiked to Hollywood and signed a contract with RKO Pictures. Changing his surname to Arness, he began his film career and made his debut in the 1947 film "The Farmer's Daughter." While he is primarily known for his roles in westerns, Arness also appeared in two science-fiction films, "The Thing from Another World" and "Them!"

Arness was a close friend of fellow actor John Wayne and even had the opportunity to work with him on multiple occasions. Some speculate that the role of Matt Dillon was initially intended for Wayne, but he recommended Arness instead. Although this part of the story is true, the rest is entirely fictional. Regardless, it was his portrayal of Matt Dillon that brought Arness worldwide fame. "Gunsmoke" became the longest-running dramatic series in American television at the time, lasting 20 years. It was only surpassed by "Law & Order" in 2010.

After the conclusion of "Gunsmoke," Arness continued to act in westerns, with one notable exception being his role as a police officer in the short-lived series "McClain's Law." James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles.