In his first decade as a Western film and television actor, Dennis Weavers first film role was a supporting role as Dandy Taylor in the 1952 film Horizons West. Guys like Gregory Peck and I don't want a big lug like you towering over us. He returned to Minneapolis to work as a radio announcer and in small theater roles. Market data provided by Factset. His funeral was private, and the family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to his favorite charity, United Cerebral Palsy. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! This could have been for a variety of reasons, but they never lacked love in their lives. Instagram: biographyscoop. James Arness died on the 3rd day of June 2011 in his home, and right by his side was his wife. He took her grocery shopping for dinner items before flying the both of them out on a private plane to his large residence in the mountains. On her part, Janet Surtees had a son named Jim Surtees before she met Arness. Dr. Nishimura, an internist in Sacramento said that she suffered from AIDS for about a year. As U.S. Wounded in the leg during the 1944 invasion at Anzio, Italy, Arness was hospitalized for a year and left with a slight limp. 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. He died from natural causes. He failed to call her for the next three months, and her employer urged her to reach out. Legal Statement. But Janet refused. The two were inseparable after that and married a few years later. Gunsmoke: James Arness Wife Opens Up About Marriage to Western Icon in 2017 Interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZlby3ryXCE, GUNSMOKE I married James Arness with Janet Arness A WORD ON WESTERNS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZlby3ryXCE). James Arness, the towering actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon, the strong and commanding symbol of frontier justice on the landmark TV western series Gunsmoke, died Friday. She said, I am sure Jim has countless girls calling him. Peter, who changed his last name to Graves, went on to star in the TV series "Mission Impossible. Furnel, Inc. is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services in a timely manner at a competitive price. She was an actress, known for Gunsmoke (1955). Born in 1950, she had trouble with drug use for several years and died of a drug overdose at 25. Several Hollywood stars have gone ahead to marry ordinary individuals, and one of them was the late James Arness. He entered Beloit College in Wisconsin, but was drafted into the Army in his 1942-43 freshman year. However, Wayne would pass on the role and refer it to his friend ", The cancellation of "Gunsmoke" didn't keep Arness away from TV for long: He returned a few months later, in January 1976, in the TV movie "The Macahans," which led to the 1978-79 ABC series "How the West Was Won.". Enjoy reading!! His longtime co-stars were Blake as saloon keeper Miss Kitty, Milburn Stone as Doc Adams and Dennis Weaver as the deputy, Chester Goode. She would tell me about Jim and their adventures. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.". He also described her and his family as the best part of his life. WebFormer wife Virginia died of a drug overdose in 1977. Although Arness was a very famous actor, they avoided the spotlight, limiting their public appearance to the occasional ceremony to honor Arness. The two met during the last season of Gunsmoke. [21] Graves and his wife Joan had three daughters: Amanda, Kelly, and Claudia. 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 Friday. His body was buried in the Abiding Hope Sanctuary in the Jasmine Terrace portion of the Great Mausoleum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. The popular media widely reported that Blakes doctor claimed that she had actually died of Aids. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She was 56 years old at the time of her death. His body was buried in the Abiding Hope Sanctuary in the Jasmine Terrace portion of the Great Mausoleum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. The couple married in 1978. Facebook: thebiographyscoop "I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. MALIBU, Calif., Aug. 1 (UPI)The death of Virginia Arness, former wife of James Arness, star of the television series Gunsmoke has been ruled an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. James Arness was a close associate of John Waynes, and he acted with him in many movies. He is a cult figure in many European countries, where he has become much more famous than in the United States. A decade from that time, Janet Surtees remains satisfied to pursue her life out of the spotlight. One of the greatest actors, James, passed away on 3rd June 2011. He was 88 years old. Eric Dane Bio, Age, Wife, Height, Net Worth, Family, Parents, Movies. Rolf inherited a love of surfing from his dad, James, and took it up seriously after suffering a fall at the age of nine. WebThe Gunsmoke star was 60 when she died on Aug. 16, 1989, at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento. Then came "Gunsmoke," which proved a durable hit and a multimillion-dollar boon for Arness, who owned part of the series. The night they first met, the two spent the night talking about their families, work, and favorite hobbies. WebShe was an actress, known for Gunsmoke (1955). Despite living in the spotlight, Surtees and Arness built a long-lasting union and were together for 33 years before the legendary actor passed away in 2011. "He's big, impressive and virile," co-star Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty) once said of Arness, adding, "I've worked with him for 16 years, but I don't really know him.". Who is Selena Green Vargas and What Happened To Her? He is best remembered for his role of 'Marshal Matt Dillon' in the long-running television Western "Gunsmoke" (1955 to 1975). Previously, she was married to James Arness and Leo Myron Morton. But my son was a really big fan of Gunsmoke and was watching it every Monday night. He also became the adoptive father to Virginias son Craig. WebDied July 29, 1977 Malibu, California, USA (accidental overdose) Spouses James Arness February 12, 1948 - April 5, 1963 (divorced, 2 children) Children Rolf Aurness Did you know Edit Trivia Mother of Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness and Jenny Lee Arness. Courtesy ABC Television. She continues to devote her time to charity activities and her grandkids. Despite the litany of movies and TV shows he featured in, James Arnesss name will forever be associated with the CBS series Gunsmoke, where he portrayed the laconic, fair-minded, and incorruptible Marshall Matt Dillon of Dodge City. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. All About Shaquille ONeals Ex-girlfriend, All About Jermaine Jacksons Ex-wife, Hazel Gordy, Who is Tony Berlin? In the early 60's Arness sued for and got custody of Craig, along with his other 2 children. He is survived by Janet, his two children, Rolf and Jimmy, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Interview with Amanda Blake However, the hospital and her friends claimed that she died of cancer. 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. Gunsmoke actor James Arness dead at 88 SheKnows Though Surtees first got to know the Gunsmoke star when he was already one of the biggest screen idols in America, she refused to be blown away by his fame. His close pals figured that he needed some assistance on the dating front, and one of those that took this task to heart was his makeup artist on Gunsmoke. He was a major city police officer in the film, Red River, a remake of the classic Red River in 1948. Janet was working for a clothing store owned by the wife of Jims make-up artist. At the time of his death, James was married to his second wife, Janet Surtees; the couple married in 1978. After dinner, he walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you,' said Janet. After dinner, he walked me out to my car and said, Well, Id like to call you,' said Janet. WebThe Gunsmoke star was 60 when she died on Aug. 16, 1989, at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento. After working together for several years, she and the store owner had become They also attended some Gunsmoke conventions in Dodge City and lent their time to assisting various charitable organizations. James Arness, famous as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, "Gunsmoke," was born to Rolf Aurness Despite his desire for privacy, a rocky domestic life landed him in the news more than once.Arness met future wife Virginia Chapman while both were studying at Southern California's Pasadena Playhouse. Arness was the first man to be called from his landing craft to assess the depth of the sea. He was 88. One night, the owner of the store invited Janet over to meet Jim. When Arness was rounding up work on Gunsmoke in 1975, he was already divorced and had suffered some other heartbreak along his way. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). James Arness's Wife Died of Drug Overdose. A post shared by Texas Trail of Fame (@texastrailoffame). "You're too big for pictures. The actor experienced even more tragedy when his first wife also died from an overdose of sleeping pills just two years later in 1977 in Malibu, California. They wed in 1948 and had two children, Jenny and Rolf. 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 Friday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Yes, he was tall, handsome, polite, and a famous actor, but he dropped the ball after a super romantic date with his future wife, Janet Surtees. Arness died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, said family spokeswoman Ginny Fazer. Then, what happened? He died of natural causes in his Brentwood home in Los Angeles. The union produced two children, a son named Rolf and a daughter named Jenny Lee. He was 88 years old at the time of his demise. The night they first met, the two spent the night talking about their families, work, and favorite hobbies. He received 100 stitches to his lower lip during his stay. After a slow start in which he took jobs as a carpenter and salesman, a role in MGM's "Battleground" (1949) was a career turning point. No details exist about who his father is, but Arness gladly accepted Jim into their family, and they all lived together while he was in his formative years. Website: Biographyscoop.com Actor. This was a Western film that took place shortly after the Civil War. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.". Why dont you come over and meet him? If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. Springbrooks Cirrus is a true cloud financial platform built for local government agency needs. ", "Gunsmoke" went on to become the longest-running dramatic series in network history until NBC's "Law & Order" tied in 2010. Surtees married her husband, James Arness, on 16 December 1978. Janets friend, who owned the dress shop and knew Jim, suggested that Janet call him. Janet Surtees is a dress shop owner and one of the famous celebrity wives in the United State who is known for being the second wife of the late American actor James Arness(James King Arness). Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He was 88. American Actor James Arness was born James King Aurness on 26th May, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA and passed away on 3rd Jun 2011 Brentwood, California, USA aged 88. Before then, Surtees attended high school and possibly got a college education, but these facts are unknown for sure. It Took James Arness Three Months To Call His Wife. WebAbout. James Arness also had a daughter named Jenny Lee. 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. Marshal Dillon in the 1955-75 CBS Western series, Arness created an indelible portrait of a quiet, heroic man with an unbending dedication to justice and the town he protected. She later agreed, at least to tell her Gunsmoke fan of a son she met one of the shows stars, and the date turned out to be a wonderful one. His daughter committed suicide in the 70's, despondent over a broken romance with Gregg Allman. Ask your rep for details. They quickly picked up from where they left off and resumed a serious relationship. See also Obviously, Janet accepted. He adopted her son Jim Surtees. Family (1) Parents Virginia Chapman James Arness Trivia (4) Daughter of James Arness and Virginia Chapman. This professionalism is the result of corporate leadership, teamwork, open communications, customer/supplier partnership, and state-of-the-art manufacturing. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. She was born in 1946 in the United States of America. He also starred in Gunsmoke, a western-themed TV series. Mike Reiss Bio, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Book, The Simpsons, Queer Duck, Brooke Smith Bio, Age, Husband, Children, Family, Net Worth, Height, Movies, Law & Order. Arness died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, said family spokeswoman Ginny Fazer. She was an actress, known for Official Detective (1957), Highway Patrol (1955) and Whirlybirds (1957). In her thinking, he probably had countless girls calling him and therefore had to be the one to call her if he was interested in dating her. The actor was 32 when friend John Wayne declined the lead role in "Gunsmoke" and recommended Arness instead. Janet worked there for seven years and grew close with the couple. When Weaver died in February 2006, Arness called it "a big loss for me personally" and said Weaver "provided comic relief but was also a real person doing things that were very important to the show. He worked for National Geographic in the 70s and 80s and produced several books and stories or them. Committed suicide by drug overdose. Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. All About Andrew Tates Younger Sister. On July 29, 1977, she died in Malibu, California, USA. They dated for a few years before tying the knot in 1978. He tried to guard them from the spotlight. The marriage foundered and in 1963 Arness sought a divorce and custody of the three children, which he was granted. Luckily, she gave him the benefit of the doubt and went on a second date (three months later) and the two were married for 33 years. ", The years showed on the weathered-looking Arness, but he -- and his TV character -- wore them well. His former wife Virginia also died of a drug overdose in 1977. His daughter, Jenny, died in 1975, while Chapman passed on two years later. She was an actress who appeared in films such as Official Detective (1957), Highway Patrol (1955), and Medic (1954). Janet is 75 years old as of January 2021. At Furnel, Inc. we understand that your projects deserve significant time and dedication to meet our highest standard of quality and commitment. James Arness died on the 3rd day of June 2011 in his home, and right by his side was his wife. They would appear in 26 episodes between 1976 and 1979. Arness died of natural causes at the age of 88 at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles on June 3rd, 2011. Twitter: @BiographyScoop KVS and SoftRight customers now have the ability to upgrade to Springbrooks new Cirrus cloud platform: WebJames Arness starred in Gunsmoke for 20 years. It also gave him the chance to meet the eventual love of his life, Janet Surtees. Who is Lexi2legit? WebOn March 6, 1984, Graves was hospitalized at Tahoe Forest Hospital for a fractured jaw among other injuries sustained from a fall on an icy Lake Tahoe road the previous weekend. He grew up to become an outstanding surfer and ended up winning the World Surfing Championship in 1970. Furnel, Inc. has been successfully implementing this policy through honesty, integrity, and continuous improvement. In 1975, Jenny Arness died of an apparently deliberate drug overdose. Nothing. In 1976, a year after his first Western role on Gunsmoke, Bruce Boxleitner (right) was cast as Luke Macahan, the son of James Arness (left) in the ABC television series How the West was Won. According to the coroner's office, she was found dead in her beach home. A single mom, Surtees was initially reluctant to go on a date with Arness despite knowing that he was a big acting star. The pair had first met while Surtees was an employee at a clothing store. Arness took on a contemporary role as a police officer in the series "McClain's Law," which aired on NBC from 1981-82. When did Rolf Aurnesss father The couple had a great marriage, and Arness revealed the same in a letter that he posted on his website a few months to his demise. Market data provided by Factset. The late James Arness was, without doubt, one of the biggest western icons in Hollywood history, and along with him on his glorious journey was his wife, Janet Surtees. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In the letter, James thanks all of his fans for cheering him on throughout his career. The series was the longest-running primetime drama series in the history of US broadcasting. He later left Nat Geo to co-found his stock photo agency, Westlight. Actress: Official Detective. It was a perfect date by any measure, and as such, it came as a rude shock to Janet when Arness stopped all further communication after that date. He is most remembered for Gunsmoke, How the West was Won. Surtees married actor James Arness. James Arness is a member of the following lists: American film actors, American WebCraig was the son of Arness' first wife. After having undergone multiple surgeries, he was honorably discharged from the Army on January 29, 1945. From Sports, business, entertainment, to celebrity gossip and so much more, Ngozika has got you covered with the latest gist and happenings as they unfold, Bert Kishs Life Story and Cause of Death, Meet T.Is Blended Family of 7 Children From Multiple Women, Meet Big Meechs Younger Brother, Terry Lee Flenory, Who is Arnetta Yardbourgh? The actor died in his sleep at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer.Arness' official website posted a letter from Arness on Friday that he wrote with the intention that it be posted posthumously: "I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends," he said. WebAccording to Reuters, Arness died on June 3, 2011, of natural causes at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, California. She kept a cool head and that trait that would continue to serve them well into marriage. Niece of Peter Graves. "A self-described drifter, Arness left home at age 18, hopping freight trains and Caribbean-bound freighters. James Arness Wrote a Letter About His Wife Before His Passing. According to the family's spokesperson, James died of natural causes at 88. James flew Janet back later that day. And here comes this huge man through the door. Chapman's son from her first marriage, Craig, was adopted by Arness. [23] In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. During the Battle of Anzio, he was seriously injured in his right thigh. Weaver died Friday from complications of cancer at his home in Ridgway, in southwestern Colorado, his publicist, Julian Myers, announced Monday. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Image: AP Photo Amanda Blake and James Arness reunite at the Golden Boot Awards, August 15, 1986. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. James is an actor best known for the TV series and TV movie franchise Gunsmoke. His military awards included the Golden Star, the Purple Heart, the European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Fighting Infantryman Badge. Sister of Craig Aurness and Rolf Aurness. Image: AP Photo Milburn Stone collects an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor Drama in 1968. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, It was tied in 2010 to the last season of Law & Order and tied again in 2018 to the 20th season of Law and Order: SVU. During an interview, Janet shares the funny stories behind their romance. 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. [8] When he and his first wife, Virginia Chapman, divorced, he started to date, which quickly became the news of the town. Janet Surtees has kept out of the spotlight since her husbands death. Nothing happened for three months. Arness even looked at how the West was won by McClains Rule. Arnesses appeared in five Gunsm Smoke movies made-for-television between 1987 and 1994.

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