James Arness Picture
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James Arness (1923–2011)

Actor | Producer | Miscellaneous Crew

American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother later became a newspaper columnist... See full bio »

Born:

James King Aurness
in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Died:

(age 88) in Los Angeles, California, USA
Still of John Wayne and James Arness in Big Jim McLain James Arness Still of James Arness and Ken Curtis in Gunsmoke Still of Burt Reynolds, James Arness, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Milburn Stone in Gunsmoke James Arness and Amanda Blake, circa 1956. Vintage silver gelatin © 1978 Glenn Embree MPTV
35 photos | 6 videos | 92 news articles »

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Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

My Demo Reel

Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama

Melanie Molnar - Reel -- No description provided.

Melanie Molnar - Reel


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Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (48 titles)
1994 Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (TV movie)
Matt Dillon
 
1993 Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (TV movie)
Matt Dillon
 
1992 Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (TV movie)
Matt Dillon
 
1990 Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (TV movie)
Matt Dillon
 
1988 Red River (TV movie)
Thomas Dunson
 
1987 Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (TV movie)
Matt Dillon
 
1987 The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (TV movie)
Jim Bowie
 
1981-1982 McClain's Law (TV series)
Det. Jim McClain
– The Last Hero (1982) … Det. Jim McClain
– From the Mouths of Babes (1982) … Det. Jim McClain
– Takeover (1982) … Det. Jim McClain
– Use of Deadly Force (1982) … Det. Jim McClain
– Green Light (1982) … Det. Jim McClain
See all 16 episodes »
 
1978-1979 How the West Was Won (TV mini-series)
Zeb Macahan
– The Slavers (1979) … Zeb Macahan
– China Girl (1979) … Zeb Macahan
– Luke (1979) … Zeb Macahan
– The Forgotten (1979) … Zeb Macahan
– The Scavengers (1979) … Zeb Macahan
See all 24 episodes »
 
1977 How the West Was Won (TV mini-series)
Zebulon (Zeb) Macahan
– Episode #1.3 (1977) … Zebulon (Zeb) Macahan
– Episode #1.2 (1977) … Zebulon (Zeb) Macahan
– Episode #1.1 (1977) … Zebulon (Zeb) Macahan
 
1976 The Macahans (TV movie)
Zeb Macahan
 
1955-1975 Gunsmoke (TV series)
Matt Dillon / Marshal Matt Dillon / Marshall Matt Dillon
– The Sharecroppers (1975) … Matt Dillon
– Manolo (1975) … Matt Dillon
– The Busters (1975) … Matt Dillon
– I Have Promises to Keep (1975) … Matt Dillon
– Hard Labor (1975) … Matt Dillon
See all 635 episodes »
 
1959 Alias Jesse James
Marshal Matt Dillon (uncredited)
 
1956 Gun the Man Down
Rem Anderson
 
1956 The First Traveling Saleslady
Joel Kingdom
 
1956 Front Row Center (TV series)
Hemp Brown
– The Challenge (1956) … Hemp Brown
 
1956 Flame of the Islands
Kelly Rand
 
1955 The Sea Chase
Schlieter
 
1955 Many Rivers to Cross
Esau Hamilton
 
1955 William Tell (TV movie)
William Tell
 
1954 Lux Video Theatre (TV series)
Chuck Scott
– The Chase (1954) … Chuck Scott
 
1954 Her Twelve Men
Ralph Munsey
 
1954 Them!
Robert Graham
 
1953 Hondo
Lennie - Army Indian Scout
 
1953 The Veils of Bagdad
Targut (as Jim Arness)
 
1953 Island in the Sky
Mac McMullen
 
1953 The Lone Hand
Gus Varden (as Jim Arness)
 
1952 Horizons West
Tiny McGilligan
 
1952 Hellgate
George Redfield
 
1952 Big Jim McLain
Mal Baxter
 
1952 The Girl in White
Matt
 
1952 Carbine Williams
Leon Williams
 
1951 The People Against O'Hara
John Fordman 'Johnny' O'Hara
 
1951 Iron Man
Alex Mallick (as Jim Arness)
 
1951 Cavalry Scout
Barth
 
1951 The Thing from Another World
'The Thing'
 
1951 Belle Le Grand
Belle Admirer Mine Guard at Fire (uncredited)
 
1951 Double Crossbones
Bullock (uncredited)
 
1951 Two Lost Worlds
Kirk Hamilton (as Jim Aurness)
 
1950 Wyoming Mail
Russell
 
1950 Sierra
Little Sam (as Jim Arness)
 
1950 Stars in My Crown
Rolfe Isbell (uncredited)
 
1950 The Lone Ranger (TV series)
Deputy Bud Titus
– Matter of Courage (1950) … Deputy Bud Titus
 
1950 Wagon Master
Floyd Clegg
 
1949 Battleground
Garby (as Jim Arness)
 
1948 Man from Texas
Minor Role (uncredited)
 
1947 Roses Are Red
Ray (as James Aurness)
 
1947 The Farmer's Daughter
Peter Holstrom (as James Aurness)
 
Show ShowProducer (3 titles)
1994 Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (TV movie) (executive producer)
 
1993 Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (TV movie) (executive producer)
 
Gunsmoke (TV series) (associate producer - 54 episodes, 1959-1964) (executive producer - 1 episode, 1964)
– The Violators (1964) (associate producer)
– May Blossoms (1964) (executive producer)
– Colorado Sheriff (1961) (associate producer)
– The Love of Money (1961) (associate producer)
– Chester's Dilemma (1961) (associate producer)
See all 55 episodes »
 
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (2 titles)
1992 Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (TV movie) (consultant)
 
1990 Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (TV movie) (consultant)
 
Show ShowSelf (12 titles)
1989 John Wayne Standing Tall (TV movie)
Himself - Host
 
1985 All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan (TV movie)
Himself
 
1984 The 1st TV Academy Hall of Fame
Himself - Presenter
 
1978 CBS: On the Air (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
 
1971 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
– Peter Graves (1971) … Himself
 
1961 Chevrolet Golden Anniversary (TV movie)
Himself - - Host
 
1961 The 13th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter
 
1959 The Red Skelton Chevy Special (TV movie)
Himself
 
1958 Wide Wide World (TV series documentary)
Himself
– The Western (1958) … Himself
 
1958 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series)
Himself
– Friends of Red Skelton Variety Show (1958) … Himself
 
1958 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #11.16 (1958) … Himself
 
1955 The Johnny Carson Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 8 September 1955 (1955) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (8 titles)
2012 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
2011 Pioneers of Television (TV mini-series documentary)
 
2006 War Stories with Oliver North (TV series documentary)
 
2005 Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (TV documentary)
Tiny McGilligan
 
2005 Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us (TV documentary)
Robert Graham in 'Them'
 
1979 The Horror Show (documentary)
 
1964 Hollywood and the Stars (TV series)
 
1963 Perry Mason (TV series)
 

Related Videos

Gunsmoke: Season 14: Episode 5 -- Slocum Island in the Sky -- A transport plane crash-lands in the frozen wastes of Labrador, and the plane's pilot, Dooley, must keep his men alive in deadly conditions while waiting for rescue. Gunsmoke: Season 13: Episode 5 -- Vengeance: Part 2
See all 6 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

1960s: Hosted a collection of bloopers and outtakes from "Gunsmoke" and other programs, which was produced for a CBS Network affiliates meeting. This gag reel has been released on several blooper videos, though often without Arness' original deadpan introductions and commentary. See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Print Biography  | 3 Articles  | See more »

Official Sites:

Official Site | See more »

Alternate Names:

Jim Arness | James Aurness | Jim Aurness

Height:

6' 7" (2.01 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

"If they were man and wife, it would make a lot of difference. The people upstairs decided it was better to leave the show as it was, which I totally agreed with." - on why his Gunsmoke character, Marshal Dillon, never married Miss Kitty. See more »

Trivia:

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke. See more »

Trademark:

Commanding voice See more »

Nickname:

Jim See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini