The actor was 32 when friend John Wayne declined the lead role in "Gunsmoke" and recommended Arness instead. Afraid of being typecast, Arness initially rejected it. "Go ahead and take it, Jim," Wayne urged him.

How old was James Arness when Gunsmoke first aired?

At the time it aired, James Arness was 64, twice the age he was (32) when he started 'Gunsmoke' in 1955.

What caused James Arness death?

Arness died from natural causes at the age of 88 years at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles on June 3, 2011. His body was interred in the Sanctuary of Abiding Hope alcove in the Jasmine Terrace section of the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Did James Arness wife appear on Gunsmoke?

In the unedited version, there is an odd scene where Matt and Chester approach a gypsy in Dodge City played by James Arness's wife at the time, Virginia Chapman. She is uncredited in this show; however, in a previous episode, Reed Survives (1955), she is credited as a gypsy but never seen.

Why did Festus leave Gunsmoke?

Gunsmoke made Ken Curtis' Festus Haggen a series regular to replace Dennis Weaver's beloved Chester Goode after he left to pursue other acting opportunities. However, Curtis refused to return for the first made-for-tv Gunsmoke movie after its 20-season run because of a couple of serious disagreements with a producer.

JAMES ARNESS FROM GUNSMOKE. The Johnny Carson Show from 1955.

Why did Burt Reynolds leave Gunsmoke?

Reynolds left Gunsmoke in 1965. He later said that being in that show was "the happiest period of my life. I hated to leave that show but I felt I had served my apprenticeship and there wasn't room for two leading men." He was cast in his first lead role in a film, the low-budget action film, Operation C.I.A. (1965).

Did Dennis Weaver and James Arness get along on Gunsmoke?

' ” 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.

Why did James Arness walk with a limp?

Wounded in the leg during the 1944 invasion at Anzio, Italy, Arness was hospitalized for a year and left with a slight limp. He returned to Minneapolis to work as a radio announcer and in small theater roles.

Could James Arness ride a horse?

Mr. Arness was terribly shy and had almost no training as an actor. A wartime leg wound made it painful for him to mount a horse. But he became the best-known tin star of his era, portraying the towering, weathered marshal for 20 years, from 1955 to 1975.

What disease did James Arness have?

"No disease, nothing untoward, he just got tired, I guess," she said. Arness was best known for his 20 years on TV playing Matt Dillon, the U.S. marshal in the dusty wild-west town of Dodge City, Kansas, a role for which he was recommended by his showbiz mentor and friend, the film star John Wayne.

Who did Matt Dillon marry in Gunsmoke?

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. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia.

Did James Arness own a ranch?

He was the only actor to appear in all 635 episodes of Gunsmoke (1955). Had to dye his naturally blond hair for the role of Matt Dillon, since dark hair was considered more masculine. In 1968, he donated his 1,400-acre ranch in northern Los Angeles County to the Brandis Institute.

How tall was Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke?

At 6 feet 7, James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon redefined "tall in the saddle." So imposing was the star of CBS' pioneering "Gunsmoke" series that when he told some no-account varmint to get out of Dodge, the skunk seldom needed a second invitation.

Did James Arness ride the same horse during Gunsmoke?

James Arness rode the same Buckskin horse (Buck) in this movie as he rode in many episodes of Gunsmoke (1955).

Did James Arness have a favorite Gunsmoke episode?

James Arness's Favorite 'Gunsmoke' Episode: "Chato"

That's 20 years of work! Actually, it was one of the later tales that stood out in his mind. It was the 16th season opener! "The episode 'Chato' is probably my all-time favorite show," Arness told the Chicago Tribune in 2005.

When did Festus leave Gunsmoke?

Mr. Curtis played Festus Haggin, sidekick to Marshal Matt Dillon, from 1964 to 1975, when the series ended.

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.

Did Burt Reynolds and James Arness get along?

Although he was only in 50 episodes and joined mid-season, Reynolds didn't feel like an outsider. In fact, while he was there, he and the cast became great friends. "He was a wonderful guy to work with, and we all became friends," Arness said. "He just fit right in with the family group, and we had a wonderful time.

How did Doc leave Gunsmoke?

He stayed with Gunsmoke through its entire television run, with the exception of 7 episodes in 1971, when Stone required heart surgery and Pat Hingle replaced him as Dr. Chapman.