Gunsmoke, which originated on CBS radio in 1952 with William Conrad as the voice of Matt Dillon, debuted on TV as one of the first in a wave of adult westerns that sought to portray gunslingers and cowboys in a way that appealed to grown-up viewers, rather than youngsters. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. A mountain family in an attempt to avenge the death of one of their own capture Matt. Born as James King Aurness on the 26th May 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Jack Hoffman, prior to having a back surgery of his own, admitted he was addicted to morphine. Attended high school, but couldn't join the navy because of his height. James Arness, famous as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, "Gunsmoke," was born to Rolf Aurness and Ruth Duesler Graves. How the West Was Won (TV series) She died at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. He served theMilitary service from1943 to 1945 as aCorporal. When you think of classic westerns, its impossible not to think of Marshal Matt Dillon from the series Gunsmoke. Portrayed by the late James Arness for two decades on CBS, fans will remember Arness for his iconic acting on the beloved series. James Arness' Work After 'Gunsmoke' Even after his stint on "Gunsmoke," Arness would go on to star in other roles. Weaver died Friday from complications of cancer at his home in Ridgway, in southwestern Colorado, his publicist, Julian Myers, announced Monday. Although this doesnt come as much of a shock considering Arness was a seriously tough guy before becoming an actor. Arness is survived by his second wife, Janet, two sons and six grandchildren. Although not an immediate hit, Gunsmoke climbed up the ratings chart to No. As a result, he later got a whopping $20,000 an episode. The Death of James Harness Hit 'Gold Rush' fans particularly hard especially considering that a tragic accident was behind his Season 2 departure. 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.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 . James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. mother and sister all died. He was 88. In addition to his work in westerns, Arness also starred in a couple of science fiction films. Aurness is the son of Gunsmoke actor James Arness and nephew of Mission Impossible actor Peter Graves. He was a great guy and mechanic. When Dennis Weaver landed the role of Chester Goode, it was apparent that he was leading man material. He served as a radio announce for a Minneapolis radio station until he decided to hitchhike to Hollywood to star in films. James Arness played the role throughout the series entire run from 1955 to 1975. Actor James Arness, who personified the tall, rugged lawman of the American frontier as Marshal Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke," U.S. television's longest-running prime-time drama, died on Friday at age 88. James Harness suffered from extreme back pain before his death. James Arness' net worth: How rich was the Gunsmoke actor at his death Actor James Arness is shown in this undated photograph provided by the Arness family.