They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). James and Virginia had two children Rolf, who became World Surfing Champion in 1970, and Jenny. Luckily, their first date was memorable enough that, when he did finally call, Janet answered and accepted a second date offer. After their divorce, Chapman, a white woman, picked up her things and moved to San Bernadino, California an area Blacks had dominated. In 1978, James Arness married Janet Surtees and she remained with him before his death. In 1948 he married Virginia Chapman and adopted her child from Craig's previous marriage. But the Gunsmoke starmarried the next woman he met after his split from Brand. Gunsmoke is a TV Western drama series that ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS. He briefly attended Beloit College in Wisconsin before his service with the United States. He had also received an Alma masters from Beloit College. A year later, he married his first wife,Virginia Chapman. He even worked as a radio announcer before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. However, James was a friendly giant. Notably, James gained massive popularity when he took on the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS Television series "Gunsmoke," a role he played for 20 years. His fans were certainly devasted by this tragic news. Rolf was a Norwegian and his wife, Ruth was a journalist. Arness died on 3 June 2011 of natural causes at the age of 88. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. . The move was a fulfilling one for Chapman, who started a motel service opened to all in California because she believed integration could only happen when white people, especially those at the top, stepped forward to mix with the black society. He didn't remarry for 18 whole years until Janet Surtees came along. Strictly Weddings. in 1960 from Virginia Chapman. The next day he called her and asked if she wanted to go to Mammoth Lakes, and she said yes. Previously, Arness worked as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler loading and unloading railway boxcars on Minneapolis Burlington freight yards, and logging in Pierce, Idaho. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. But Janet was hesitant at first. Alexis Arquette Bio, Net Worth, Height, Age, Affairs, Boyfriend & Death, Kyle Secor Bio, Age, Net Worth, Height, Married & Wife. After Gunsmoke, Arness starred in How the West Was Won. Janet described meeting Arness after he had already begun filming Gunsmoke in an interview with A Word on Westerns. For his service, Arness was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and several other medals. When Arness. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. He died at the age of 88. Gunsmoke originated as a radio drama series in 1952 and was translated to television three years later, in 1955. But the couple gets divorced in 1963, and Arness was granted legal custody of the children. The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. | Source: Getty Images. Are you a James Arness fan? })(document); Virginia Chapman (m. 1948; div. James Arness was born in May 1923 in Minneapolis, and he passed away in June 2011. I was under contract to Dukes company for two years before Gunsmoke came along, Arness told the Signal in 2006. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. (Humorous pause). d.getElementById("contentad428986").appendChild(s); One was named Craig, a photographer, while the other, Jenny, was an actress and they died in 2004 and 1975 respectively. Some of the stars appearing in Gunsmoke are - Burt Reynolds, Ken Curtis, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, and James Arness. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. Late actor James Drury was wed three times, but the love of his life will always be his third wife, Carl Ann Drury. However, Arness was eventually pulled back to Gunsmoke, starring in five made-for-TV movies between 1987 and 1993. 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. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. 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. All Rights Reserved. April 22, 1955| Source: Getty Images. Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960. 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. The actor passed away at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, at his Brentwood home. Before his death, he penned a letter that expressed his deep feelings for her, his fans, and his family. His birth date ison May 26, 1923. What Happened To Patty Duke? He now lives a private lifein Los Angeles and regularly volunteers at a Santa Monica mental health clinic. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America, and at the moment of his death, Garner was 86 years old. Janets friend, who owned the dress shop and knew Jim, suggested that Janet call him. That was too bad, because we were on two hours every night, seven days a week.. On the other side of the spectrum, James's son as well as his only remaining offspring by blood, Rolf Arness made his father proud when he became World Surfing Champion in 1970. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Janet Surtees at his house in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, the United States. Despite the separation, James still pursued his career. James and Janet lived happily, even after his stint as Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke" and his movies. Arness' 20-year, prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years . After Being Caught For A Previous Crime, A Person Suspected Of Stealing Is Charged. After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. In addition, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34 movies, as well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies. 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' remained with his second wife until his death in 2011. Your email address will not be published. However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. Although he could not serve as a pilot, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in March 1943. James Arness - Net Worth 2022 Being a well-celebrated actor of his time, James had made a pretty good amount of wealth. Then he is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Since this was so important to Arness, he decided to leave a note for his longstanding Gunsmoke followers to read after his passing, which no doubt deepened their already profound admiration for him. After he divorced Chapman, he married an actress . After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). 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. Arness had a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter. To make up for the lost role, an actor . The Gunsmoke family was the thing that people got used to, and (they) wanted to see that in their homes on Saturday nights, you see, he told the Signal. Furthermore, he won theWorld War II Victory Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge. As a result, he played a role in getting Arness to accept the role of Matt on Gunsmoke, the show that would prove to be the pinnacle of his career. After their first meeting, Janet did not call James until after three months. David Spade Net Worth: How Many Houses Does He Have? ne Mans Justice, a made-for-TV movie, featuring (from top) Bruce Boxleitner (as Davis Healy) and James Arness (as Matt Dillon). She wasnt sure how she felt about meeting, and possibly dating, a big-time Hollywood star. 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 in 2011 He was 88. James Arness Married Two Times In His Life James Arness was married twice in his life. Although he was a famous actor, James liked to keep his personal life under wraps. Chapman. He also reprised his role in the movies that came after: "Gunsmoke: The Last Apache" in 1990, "Gunsmoke: To the Last Man" in 1992, "Gunsmoke: The Long Ride" in 1993, and "Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice" in 1994. Of course, she was charmed by his politeness and friendliness, so they got to talking. His first marriage was to Virginia Chapman; an actress. The two were inseparable after that and married a few years later. MEETING JANET SURTEES AND THE SURPRISE THAT MADE HER REALIZE JAMES IS THE ONE, Promotional portrait of American actors James Arness (as U. S. Marshal Matt Dillon0 (foreground) and Buck Taylor (as Newly O'Brien) from the television series 'Gunsmoke,' 1970.| Source: Getty Images. James Arness and Virginia Chapman gave birth to a son, Rolf, (born February 18, 1952) and a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness (May 23, 1950 - May 12, 1975). He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. And shes an avid humanitarian. He also had a daughter named Jenny who passed in 1975. He was a rifleman and served in the Battle of Anzio with the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. How Did James Arness Die? Regarding James Arness personal life, well, the actor has been married twice. 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. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. Arness Became Famous In Hollywood In 1955 | Source: Getty Images. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978) Then he didnt call for three months. That was a big factor.,
And here comes this huge man through the door. 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 in the 1990s. Their parents were businessmen and journalists. James Arness Net Worth. Despite the glamorous life behind the scenes, James had a pretty complicated life leading to her divorce, up until his marriage to his second wife, who became his life-long partner until the very end. Before Janet, James was married to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until 1963; the couple had three children, Rolf, Craig, and Jenny Lee, who died of suicide in 1975. Why dont you come over and meet him? Arness' daughter Jenny committed suicide on 12th May 1975 by drug overdose. James had a son named Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970. 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. James Arness' role as Marshal Matt Dillon made him an iconic hero to millions all over the world. But Janet was hesitant at first. In the early 1960s, John Wayne took an interest in Arness and was instrumental in getting him cast in Gunsmoke, the show that would ultimately define his career for the next two decades. 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. Together with her adopted son, Craig, they created a family. It was a wonderful thing. GUNSMOKE's James Arness was born on May 26, 1923. Your email address will not be published. Arness was born to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and writer Ruth Duesler on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other James Arness fans! In an interview with the Santa Clarita Signal, Arness said his co-stars never stood on anything to make them look taller in shots they shared with him on Gunsmoke. 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. You are and always have been truly appreciated.. Esin Gmkl (@l_gumusk) May 23, 2021. She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. But information about her mother isnt available in the media. Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. She died in 1977 from a drug overdose, following her daughter's death two years prior on the same cause. 20 Things You Didnt Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Gunsmoke: James Arness Called Wife Best Part of My Life. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. He first shared wedding vows with Virginia Chapman in 1948. To start, we went to a food store, Janet explained. Jim Arness said, "If Matt and Kitty [had] an on-screen love affair, they'd have to get married. Then, what happened? Uncategorized pictures of jenny lee arness. James's make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. During an interview, Janet opened up about the night she met James. For some, the tragedies never seem to stop and they keep compounding in every phase of their lives. Arness was 88 years old. If he wants to call me, he will. Three months later, he finally called. Surtees was reluctant, but her son was a "Gunsmoke" fan, so she went just so she could tell him she had met his favorite actor. Arness was born to James Arness and Virginia Chapman. Arness wrote a letter to his fans that he asked Janet to post on his website after his passing. One night, her friend invited Janet over for dinner to meet James Arness. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. James Arness is married to Janet Surtees. (Arness would later say that Matt's only onscreen kiss was in that episode, "Matt's Love Story," but Kitty did in fact kiss him once.) In addition to the 1987 film Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, he also appeared in four further television movies set in the 1990s in which he repeated the character. He went on to star in a few more Western-themed programs after Dodge City was canceled, but he eventually made his way back to the role of Dillon in a series of television movies released in the early 90s. Disclaimer: All content is provided for fun and entertainment purposes only. var qs = Object.keys(params).reduce(function(a, k){ a.push(k + '=' + encodeURIComponent(params[k])); return a},[]).join(String.fromCharCode(38)); The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. When he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, he wanted to become a naval fighter pilot but couldnt because of his poor eyesight and excessive height. By the time they were finished, others had left, but their litters remained scattered around. Reuters reports that Arness passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, for unspecified reasons. But there was one person in particular that James wanted to thank most his wife, Janet. Her name is Janet Surtees and the two were married for 33 years. Besides, James had married twice in his life. I had a wonderful life and was blessed with so many loving people and great friends. He was 88. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother . What made us different from other Westerns was the fact that Gunsmoke wasnt just action and a lot of shooting. As of 2023, The net worth of James Arness to be at $10 million. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.. + qs; Inside the marriage of Janet and her Late Husband James Arness. com for more Copyright 2012-2023 Social Sweethearts GmbH. It plagued him for the rest of his life. Likely, they were also blessed with a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. Oh my God, I agree with him! 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. Let's have a look at the details of his death, his multiple married life, his numerous children, as well as the loved ones he lost. 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. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. Moreover, he was a photographer for National Geographic. His chest- waist, and hips measurements were 48-36-36 respectively. He believed the family seen on Gunsmoke was why people kept going back to it for two decades. However, after one magical date, James didnt call Janet for three months! But Janet refused. Moreover, He was the tallest leading man in Hollywood by the time. Apart, Arness had already become a grandfather of six grandchildren. They had been together for six years. It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. He and Peter participated in the Second World War, but unfortunately, he didn't leave the battlefield uninjured. However, in 1971, he was forced to temporarily leave the show for just a handful of episodes because he had to undergo heart surgery after suffering a heart attack. 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