Did James Arness have a stunt double?
- Ashfaan
- November 16, 2024
Did James Arness do any of his own stunts?
James Arness, who portrayed Matt Dillon on the TV series "Gunsmoke," did perform some of his own stunts, but not all of them. While he was known for his tall and strong physique, some of the more dangerous or complex stunts were often performed by trained stunt doubles to ensure his safety.What was the cause of death for James Arness?
Arness died from natural causes at the age of 88 years at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles on June 3, 2011.Did James Arness ever get married in real life?
Following the aforementioned "Gunsmoke" TV movies (the last in 1994, when Arness was 71), Arness basically retired. His marriage to Virginia Chapman ended in divorce in 1960. They had three children, one of whom, Jenny Lee, committed suicide in 1975. Arness subsequently married Janet Surtrees in 1978.Did James Arness and Dennis Weaver get along?
' ” Arness, who remained close to Weaver after he left the series, praised him as a “really fine actor.” “We really liked each other a whole lot,” Arness said.James Arness Says This Is Why He Never Kissed Miss Kitty
What happened to James Arness's first wife?
The wealth and fame Arness gained from "Gunsmoke" could not protect him from tragedy in his personal life: His daughter and his former wife, Virginia, both died of drug overdoses.Did the cast of Gunsmoke get along?
The cast of Gunsmoke was able to get pretty chummy with each other during the show's twenty-season run, to the point where they felt like a family. Leading this cast of Western stars was James Arness, a man who was— apparently— as tall as he was kind.Are any cast members from Gunsmoke still alive?
Some Gunsmoke actors still living and working today include Roger Ewing, Buck Taylor, Kim Darby, and William Shatner. William Shatner, known for Star Trek, made a memorable appearance on Gunsmoke as Fred Bateman in a single episode.What was James Arness like in real life?
James Arness was the quiet type while he was away from his character, Marshal Matt Dillon. His Gunsmoke character was known for his strong moral code, sense of justice, and fairness, but off-screen Arness was known to limit personal appearances and interviews.Was James Arness a good horseback rider?
Among the worst was James Arness who didn't like horses and preferred to spend time on his boat.” Westerns expert James Denniston adds, “The Duke [in his early career], Wild Bill Elliott, Randolph Scott, Slim Pickens, Richard Boone and Jimmy Stewart all rode well. As big as he was, Andy Devine was a good rider.Was James Arness like Matt Dillon?
Unlike many television stars, Arness never took on too many characteristics of his most famous role, nor did Dillon become more like the actor. "As for the issue of the onscreen personality and the real person, there's no comparison, no way.Why did Buck Taylor leave Gunsmoke?
Taylor said he was up for a couple of other film roles at the time and had to make a choice. It turns out to have been the best decision of his career. Newly became a key member of the cast and Taylor stayed with the series for eight seasons and 174 episodes until its cancellation in 1975.What actor was in every episode of Gunsmoke?
A list of Gunsmoke cast members in order of how many episodes they appeared in would start predictably enough. James Arness, who lead the series as Marshall Matt Dillon, was in all 635 episodes.Why did Dennis Weaver quit Gunsmoke?
Dennis Weaver never anticipated that the series would be as successful and long running as it was— and as he neared the end of his time on Gunsmoke, he was entirely out of creative directions in which to take his character, and he began to feel the physical repercussions of walking with a limp for so long.Who turned down the role of Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke?
But that was the reasoning behind Polly Bond's decision to refuse the part of Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke. The former Polly Ellis had recently married Tommy Bond, a former child actor most famous for playing "Butch" on The Little Rascals.Did Chester and Festus ever meet?
But the changing of the guard really happened in the Season 9 episode titled "The Prairie Wolfer," where Chester and Festus actually appear together. In fact, this particular episode had appearances from Matt, Kitty, Doc, Chester, Festus, Sam and Quint.Who turned down the role of Kitty on Gunsmoke?
Bond's wife Polly Bond (aka Polly Ellis), a former model and Miss California, turned down the role of "Miss Kitty" on Gunsmoke (1955).What religion was James Arness?
He was raised as a Methodist. Arness attended John Burrows Grade School, Washburn High School and West High School in Minneapolis. Despite “being a poor student and skipping many classes”, he graduated from high school in June 1942. He then enlisted in the United States Army to serve in World War II.Did James Arness daughter appear on Gunsmoke?
Jenny Lee Arness, who appears in this episode as "Amy", is the real-life daughter of James Arness.How long was James Arness married to his second wife?
James's Second and Final Wife: Janet SurteesJames found love again four years after his divorce, dating Thordis Brandt for six years before they eventually parted ways. In 1978, he married Janet Surtees, an enduring relationship, and they stayed together until Arness's death.