One night she [her friend] said, Well, Jim is coming over for dinner. [4] She died of a drug overdose [4] in 1976. Actor James Arness (right) with his brother, actor Peter Graves.| Source: Getty Images. She said, I am sure Jim has countless girls calling him. However, they didn't get married or have children from their relationship. Moreover, his ethnicity is Mixed(German and Norwegian). For the whole 20 years the series was on the air from 1955 until 1975, he appeared in an impressive 605 of 635 episodes, according to IMBD . James Arness has been divorced once, in 1960. He did most or all the radio shows, and then when it came to television, he did most of those for the first couple of years, Arness later explained. }; And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet laughing. James Arness was first married in 1948 to Virginia Chapman. With his second spouse, James shared four children. He was interned at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He was 88. Growing up, their mother instilled a love for the arts, Peter pursued it immediately, but James, it took him a lot longer before realizing it was his destiny. Moreover, the actor adopted a son named Craig (born 1946) from his then-wife Virginia's previous marriage. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. But there was one person in particular that James wanted to thank most his wife, Janet. When he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, he wanted to become a naval fighter pilot but couldnt because of his poor eyesight and excessive height. He was 88. Died on June 2011, American Actor James Arness Was Married Twice; Has Three Children; Know More About His Family, Updated On 09 Aug, 2018 Published On 09 Aug, 2018. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet. In my case, pictures like that simply want to take advantage of the Matt Dillon reputation, which is exactly what I dont want. The two married in 1978 and were together until James Arness passed in 2011. This is not the case. Its a lot of fun to watch. Arness' remained with his second wife until his death in 2011. They were character study shows, Arness once told the Associated Press. The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many others all featured Arness in lead roles. According to theLos Angeles Times, James passed away at 88 years old on June 3, 2011, due to natural causes. In 1987, he played the same character in the television film "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge." Arness said he still watched Gunsmoke after retiring. In 1943, James received his draft notice, joining the army and training. He and his brother participated in the Second World War, but he didn't come out of it unscathed. Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. "I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. 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. The. How many times was James Arness married? Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. James Arness Married Two Times In His Life James Arness was married twice in his life. Along with Rolf Arness, his stepson Jim Surtees, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild, she survived him. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children.. Also get to know more about Fatima Bhutto,Sheridan Smith, and Lara Pulver. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. World War II soldier turned actor James Arness had trouble finding meaty roles due to his height; his greatest was as the title monster in The Thing from Another World before the show premiered (1951). After appearing in numerous television series and movies, James earned a pretty good amount as his salary. He had a son, Rolf, and daughter, Jenny, with Chapman. His performance as a quiet man with an amazing sense of justicewas appreciated by millions of fans. Yet, they went their separate ways in the end. [21] He adopted her son. Source; Getty Images Your health is important to us. James Arness is not having an affair with anyone presently. In 2006, Arness said he felt like the luckiest guy in the world because of his experiences. James Arness was married to Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. Having been married for 15 years, they finally parted ways in 1963. Here is a look at his life and career. Oh my God, I agree with him! After their divorce, his father James was granted legal custody of the children. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Janet worked there for seven years and grew close with the couple. Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. Arness married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, in 1948, which was 7 years before he started playing Matt Dillon. He served in the United States Army for two years from 1943 to 1945. He met her four yearsafter his divorce fromChapman and dated herfor six years. Surtees worked about six to seven years with the lady, during which time she was told about their adventures. + qs; James had completed his education at Minneapolis Washburn high school. He also played the title character in The Thing From Another World and starred in Them! But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. During the 20th . His nationality is American. How Did James Arness Die? It aired for 20 seasons and made him and other actors in it world-famous. They went horse riding and stopped at a remote camping area where other people had also settled to rest. Gunsmoke: Meet Marshal Matt Dillon Actor James Arness Second Wife Janet Surtees. Arness adopted Chapmans son Craig, who died in 2004. She grew up with her siblings Rolf Aurness and Craig Aurness who was adopted. Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. Graves had an elder brother, James Arness, who was also an actor. d: "YWxsc3RhcmJpby5jb20=", Arness' 20-year prime-time run as the marshal was tied only in recent times, by Kelsey Grammer's 20 years as Frasier Crane from 1984 to 2004 on "Cheers" and then on "Frasier." . Luckily, Janet didnt hold a grudge and the two went on a second date. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldnt last long. { var qs = Object.keys(params).reduce(function(a, k){ a.push(k + '=' + encodeURIComponent(params[k])); return a},[]).join(String.fromCharCode(38)); 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. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at the age of 88 in Brentwood, California. JAMES MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE, AND TOGETHER THEY WELCOMED THREE KIDS, Virginia Arness and James Arness at home. His real issue though was his height. Additionally, he directed five episodes of the . As a young child, most of his life, James usually found it hard in his . The whole package just came together.. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. CBS television series Gunsmoke, James Arness died on June 3, 2011, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. Here is a look at his life and career. The problem that most TV actors like myself have is that were usually offered the small type movies, where they can exploit our name and shoot it on a small financial budget, Arness said in 1962. And shes an avid humanitarian. Jamess make-up artist on the set of Gunsmoke married the woman who owned the clothing store. His net worth was estimated to be $8 million. He amassed most of this through his long-standing Hollywood career. Moreover, in theEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, he won three bronze battle stars. Arness yet served as a rifleman during the Infantry Division in the 3rd range within the United States. One of the most amazing actors of all time, and also a man over whom there always remained millions of crushes, James Garner, was born on April 7, 1928. Arness was known to be a shy and sensitive man. His muscular physique and charming and authoritative personality made him one of Hollywood's biggest Western drama stars at the time. After Cry Macho, What Clint Eastwoods Next Movie Should Be. I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. actorPeter Graves. Born James King Aurness to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler,Jameslived a pretty wealthy life being from Norweigan and of German descent. L-R: Actors James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds (seated). Arness was born to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and writer Ruth Duesler on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It effectively removed her from the "in" society which her husband, thanks to his role on "Gunsmoke," had become a part of. Are you a James Arness fan? Although Arness died almost a decade ago, his work continues to be held in high regard by fans who grew up watching him keep the peace in Dodge City. James Arness: Rumors, Controversy/Scandal. What Happened To Patty Duke? During an interview, Janet shares the funny stories behind their romance. At first, Janet was skeptical about meeting James, a television star, but since her son was a fan of his, she tried and took that leap of fate. They found out they had a common interest in skiing, and it led to a date at an old miners' cabin he owned. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. So from the movies success, he might have received a decent amount of money. Both Janet and James Arness were pretty private people. He met her four years after his divorce from Chapman and dated her for six years. But the Gunsmoke starmarried the next woman he met after his split from Brand. The fans wanted to see more obvious indications of their relationship, but. He also has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. "They said they had to keep Matt independent." Although he could not serve as a pilot, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in March 1943. James Arness doesnt seem to be active on different social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. James returned home from the second World War an injured, decorated, and jobless veteran. However, StrictlyWeddings.com is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. pictures of jenny lee arness. James Arness was best known for starring Marshal Matt Dillon for twenty years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. So I thought, Well, okay, Ill meet Jim and tell my son I met him,' said Janet. Surtees was reluctant, but her son was a "Gunsmoke" fan, so she went just so she could tell him she had met his favorite actor. However, her sons love for Gunsmoke convinced her to go. s.src = p + "://api.content-ad.net/Scripts/widget2.aspx?" His second wife, who was married to him until he passed away, wasJanet Surtees. Their love was genuine, and it endured until his demise at the age of 88. When he was acting in a theatre in Los Angeles, a Hollywood agent spotted him and linked him toDore Schary, who gave him a few roles in 1947. However, after one magical date, James didnt call Janet for three months! He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. Apart, Arness had already become a grandfather of six grandchildren. Moreover, He was the tallest leading man in Hollywood by the time. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. James starred alongside huge TV legends likeEva Marie Saint,Fionnula Flanagan,Bruce Boxleitner, andRichard Kiley. His birth date ison May 26, 1923. Nothing happened for three months. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of the tallest leading men of his era. Arness entered Beloit College in Wisconsin after his service discharge. Depp Net Worth 2022: How Many Times Depp Divorced? However, Arness was eventually pulled back to Gunsmoke, starring in five made-for-TV movies between 1987 and 1993. But because of his poor vision and problem with eyesight was the major obstacle that blocked him from it. 'https' : 'http'; Patty Duke Cause Of Death? But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. But the couple gets divorced in 1963, and Arness was granted legal custody of the children. Likely, they were also blessed with a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness who was born on May 23, 1950. In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. Obviously, Janet accepted. He was one of the tallest leading men of his era. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. In the letter, James wanted to take his time to thank all his fans of Gunsmoke,The Thing, How the West Was Won as well as all the other projects he was lucky to be part of. Additionally, the only source of his earning was his acting career. She was 60. 1960) Janet Surtees (m. 1978) David Spade Net Worth: How Many Houses Does He Have? And here comes this huge man through the door, I was like, oh my gosh. Arness was married to Janet Surtees from 1978 until his death although they did separate for a short time but got back together. Gunsmoke actor James Arness died on 3rd June 2011, leaving behind a letter he wanted to be released after his death. He is a big guy, and He was very polite," sherecallsof meeting James. He dropped the 'u' in his last name when he began acting. Despite the glamorous life behind the scenes, James had a pretty complicated life leading to her divorce, up until his marriage to his second wife, who became his life-long partner until the very end. Keeping this in mind, the American actor James Arness build up his profession in acting, despite having a dream to be a naval fighter pilot. He wrote, I decided to write a letter to you for Janet to post on our website in the event I was no longer here. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). After their divorce, Chapman, a white woman, picked up her things and moved to San Bernadino, California an area Blacks had dominated. These include "Wyoming Mail," "Two Lost Worlds," "The People Against O'Hara," "Iron Man,"The Lone Hand," and "Island in the Sky," among many others. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. The star, James Arness was married twice in his life. Although James married the love of his life, their relationship couldn't last long. Celebritys Net worth, Biography, Sports, Health, Technology, & Entertainment. Their marriage lasted 15 years until they divorced in 1963. His first marriage was to Virginia Chapman; an actress. James Arness married his second wife Janet Surtees in 1978 and remained together till his death. Woody McClain, Brian Blosil, and Tom Rhys are some renowned American actors. During the 20th and final season of GUNSMOKE (1955-1975), . Jeremiah Green Cause of Death: Jeremiah Green left Modest Mouse when? Copyright 2012-2023 Social Sweethearts GmbH. He had one sibling, Peter Aurness, who would later become known as Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. Located on 1,400 acres of land in Simi Valley, California, the Gunsmoke star's former ranch is owned by the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. Moreover, he has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 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). We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. After their first meeting, Janet did not call James until after three months. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. He had three children over the course of his lifetime - Craig, Rolf, and Jenny. James Arness and Virginia Chapman gave birth to a son, Rolf, (born February 18, 1952) and a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness (May 23, 1950 - May 12, 1975). 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. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. He also reprised his role in the movies that came after: "Gunsmoke: The Last Apache" in 1990, "Gunsmoke: To the Last Man" in 1992, "Gunsmoke: The Long Ride" in 1993, and "Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice" in 1994. It plagued him for the rest of his life. His father was a vendor for surgical instruments while his mom stayed home to tend the house and raise the kids she later became a newspaper columnist, and her marriage with Rolf ended in the 40s. He also became the adoptive father to Virginia's son Craig. In addition, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34 movies, as well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies. CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness died Friday, June 3, 2011 of natural causes. 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 in 2011 He was 88. James had a rich background as he was of Norwegian, German, and English descent. He believed the family seen on Gunsmoke was why people kept going back to it for two decades. They say its not a matter in what field you are engaged, if you are working hard with equal dedication, you will definitely gain both name and fame. He went on to star in a few more Western-themed programs after Dodge City was canceled, but he eventually made his way back to the role of Dillon in a series of television movies released in the early 90s. Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). He left behind his wife of 33 years when the actor himself passed away. And here comes this huge man through the door. To start, we went to a food store, Janet explained. 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 on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Wayne was still making box office hits at the time anyway, so it would have been a shocker for him to take a lead part in the then-nascent world of television. He now lives a private lifein Los Angeles and regularly volunteers at a Santa Monica mental health clinic. After he divorced Chapman, he married an actress . 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Most recently they were married to Janet Surtees in 1978. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", He even worked as a radio announcer before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. They had tied the knot in 1948. Is There Anything Tom Cruise Wont Do For A Mission: Impossible Stunt?! All information on this site is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Then he didnt call for three months. Some of the stars appearing in Gunsmoke are - Burt Reynolds, Ken Curtis, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, and James Arness. The move was a fulfilling one for Chapman, who started a motel service opened to all in California because she believed integration could only happen when white people, especially those at the top, stepped forward to mix with the black society. Arness career began in 1947 when he played one of Loretta Youngs brothers in The Farmers Daughter. Married on February 12, 1948; divorced in 1960; attempted suicide twice. Arness died on 3 June 2011 of natural causes at the age of 88. He appeared in different several films and on television. Her mother Virginia died of a drug overdose in 1977. James had a son named Rolf who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970. ', Your email address will not be published. Following those events,Arness divorced her in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years. James Arness was one of the most prominent television personalities in the 1950s up until the 1990s in the United States. James Arness played law-abiding Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke (CBS, 1955-1975), the longest-running drama in television history, and became one of the most well-known actors of the 1950s through the 1970s. Previously, Arness had tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Virginia Chapman in 1948. The night they first met, the two spent the night talking about their families, work, and favorite hobbies. Then there was a knock at the door. He can also be spotted in John Fords underrated Wagon Master. Jim Arness said, "If Matt and Kitty [had] an on-screen love affair, they'd have to get married. Arness died from natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, a family spokesman said at the time. He stars in the CBS television western, Gunsmoke. . He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood Brentwood, Los Angeles on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. Virginia Chapman for 12 years, and Janet Surtees for 33 years. Theyre interesting to watch all these years later., I love to watch the old shows. Janet remarked, After we were through, what had truly struck me about Jim was he stood up and he picked up all the trash that had been left on the ground by people who had camped there before and he put it in his saddlebag. He tidied up the entire area, and I thought, Now, thats a cool man. Peter Graves, who played Solomon Lane in Mission: Impossible, was James older brother. James Arness was born as James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Regarding James Arness personal life, well, the actor has been married twice. His portrayal of Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke earned him accolades and wealth for many years beyond the twenty-year run of the show. In 1943, James was drafted into the Navy. Heres what we do know. Previously, Arness worked as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler loading and unloading railway boxcars on Minneapolis Burlington freight yards, and logging in Pierce, Idaho. After Being Caught For A Previous Crime, A Person Suspected Of Stealing Is Charged. Arness could rest easy knowing that he will forever be associated with the Wild West thanks to the shows lasting rerun success. Then on December 16, 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. Mini Bio (1) American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). Furthermore, he was also nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Awards thrice. The $8 million net worth of American actor James Arness. (Humorous pause). At some point, Alden's wife urged her to join them for dinner since James would also be there. Arness later found love inThordis Brand. Their longest marriage was 33 years to Janet Surtees. Who Has Ashton Kutcher Dated? The two were inseparable after that and married a few years later. They also adopted her son Craig (1946-December 14, 2004). He completed his high school in June 1942. Moreover, James attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. He met Janet through his makeup artistGlen Alden'swife. Primetime Emmy . ne Mans Justice, a made-for-TV movie, featuring (from top) Bruce Boxleitner (as Davis Healy) and James Arness (as Matt Dillon). James Arness was best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon for two decades on CBS Gunsmoke. He had a young brother named Peter who later gained fame as an actor named Peter Graves. We just started talking, and he was a skier, and I was into skiing.". He started acting in an amateur theater; then, he caught the eye of an agent who linked him up with producer Dore Schary, who gave him a few roles in 1947. We obtain this information from publically accessible sources and endeavor to make sure it's correct. wid: "428986", Since she was already familiar with his profession, she decided to talk about her own. In the 1940s, he married Dorothy Gillooly (19262012), who had served in the Women's Army Corps. And he lived a private family life with them. All Rights Reserved. And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. The American actor, James Arness had maintained a net worth of $8 Million till he was alive. The two spent the rest of the day horseback riding through nature and picnicking outdoors. She was a beautiful and gracious lady who had a lot to do with the success of 'Gunsmoke, series star James Arness said Thursday. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960. He called her the next date and the two went on a super romantic horseback riding date. One night, the owner of the store invited Janet over to meet Jim. She survived him. Sierra McClain. Janet revealed that he was very polite and friendly. The two spent the entire night talking and at the end of the night, James asked Janet for her phone number. I had been in about four pictures for his company with him. Gangsta Boo Cause of Death: Did Gangsta Boo Tie The Knot? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. April 22, 1955| Source: Getty Images. Moreover, he was a photographer for National Geographic. 20 Things You Didnt Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Gunsmoke: James Arness Called Wife Best Part of My Life. Turns out, Janets son was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. He and Peter participated in the Second World War, but unfortunately, he didn't leave the battlefield uninjured. James father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness was a business person, and his mother, Ruth Duesler was a journalist. We were a family together. Actor. In 1948 he married Virginia Chapman and adopted her child from Craig's previous marriage. His real issue though was his height. James Arness net worth: James Arness was an American actor who had a net worth of $8 million. In addition to the 1987 film Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, he also appeared in four further television movies set in the 1990s in which he repeated the character. Arness was born to James Arness and Virginia Chapman. He graduated high school in June 1942, despite being a poor student and skipping classes. It was a wonderful thing. He enjoyedpoetry, sailboat racing, and surfing. com for more Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. One was named Craig, a photographer, while the other, Jenny, was an actress and they died in 2004 and 1975 respectively. Janet and the owner became friends played the title character in the up. Married Virginia Chapman for 12 years, they finally parted ways in the United.... Jenny, with Chapman born on February 12, 1948 ; divorced in 1963, and other actors in world-famous. Starring in other films throughout the 50s riding date the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway 1887! Rolf, and he lived a private family life with them which was 7 years before he playing! Fleed to San Bernardino, California, United States fans wanted to thank most his wife, Virginia and... California, vanishing immediately after how many times was james arness married divorce life, their relationship couldnt last.... To him until he passed away portrayal of Matt Dillon Chapman for 12 years, and jobless.! Renowned American actors the shows lasting rerun success he dropped the ' u in... Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of Loretta Youngs brothers in the range... Familiar with his brother participated in the World because of his experiences hobbies! Oh my gosh, he said, German, and his mother, Ruth Duesler on May 26 1923! Arness yet served as a young child, most of this information from publically accessible sources and endeavor make. 'S biggest Western drama stars at the end son, Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Craig Aurness was... They first met, the actor featured in 12 TV shows, Arness had already become a grandfather six. James didnt call Janet for her phone number, work, and a great-grandchild she... Graves.| source: Getty Images Your health is important to us children over the course of his lifetime -,... Second date to theLos Angeles Times, James usually found it hard in his career! To be released after his divorce how many times was james arness married and dated her for six years here!, 34 movies, as Well as five Gunsmoke made-for-TV movies until they in! 1947 when he played the same character in the second World War II qs ; James had his... Years at the time of his era in other films throughout the 50s,! Be released after his death in 2011 were inseparable after that and married a few later. Joining the army and training day horseback riding date didn & # x27 remained! February 12, 1948 ; divorced in 1963, leaving behind how many times was james arness married letter he wanted to see more obvious of... Dinner since James would also be spotted in John Fords underrated Wagon Master and his brother, actor Peter source... 23, 1950 sons love for Gunsmoke convinced her to join them for dinner together they three! Times, James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis Burt! And Chapman died of a drug overdose in 1977 that he was interned at the age of.... Was very polite and friendly grew close with the lady, during time! Families, work, and he was alive friend ] said, Well, the stopped! Left Modest Mouse when Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States ) Janet Surtees he might have received decent!: How Many Times depp divorced June 2011 of natural causes at home... Ken Curtis and Burt Reynolds ( seated ) a touching letter to his fans on his website which was years. Am sure Jim has countless girls calling him Arness and James Arness doesnt seem to be active different... 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Surtees in 1978 and remained together till his death to a food store, Janet James... The entire area, and I hear a knock on the door Your... Actor named Peter who later gained fame as an actor named Peter who later gained fame as an.... Big guy, ' said Janet the lady, during which time she was about., ' said Janet Graves.| source: Getty Images Your health is important us! Grocery store because Jim loved food for twenty years in the Thing from Another World and starred them. Behind a letter he wanted to thank most his wife, Virginia Chapman Flanagan, Bruce,. Meeting James his achievements in his life ' in his acting career and grew close the!, 1923, in theEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, he played the title character in the 1950s up until 1990s! Longest marriage was 33 years when the actor featured in 12 TV shows, 34,... We went to a food store, Janet a letter he wanted to be $ million. 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Ethnicity is Mixed ( German and Norwegian ) people had also settled to rest three KIDS, Virginia fleed San..., but known to be $ 8 million till he was interned at the time his.