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James Arness‌

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1923-05-26

Popularity

star7.1

James Arness

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

James Arness

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1923-05-26

Popularity

star7.1

Biography

The star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness (formerly had 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. James attended West High School in Minneapolis. Although he appeared in school plays, he had no interest in performing, and dreamed instead of going to sea. After high school, he attended one semester at Beloit College before receiving his draft notice in 1943. He entered the army and trained at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, before shipping out for North Africa. After landing at Casablanca, Arness joined the 3rd Infantry Division in time for the invasion of Anzio. Ten days after the invasion, Arness was severely wounded in the leg and foot by German machine-gun fire. His wounds, which plagued him the rest of his life, resulted in his medical discharge from the army. While recuperating in a Clinton, Iowa hospital, he was visited by his younger brother Peter (later to gain fame as actor Peter Graves), who suggested he take a radio course at the University of Minnesota. James did so, and a teacher recommended him for a job as an announcer at a Minneapolis radio station. Though seemingly headed for success in radio, he followed a boyhood friend's suggestion and went with the friend to Hollywood in hopes of getting work as film extras. He studied at the Bliss-Hayden Theatre School under actor Harry Hayden, and while appearing in a play there was spotted by agent Leon Lance. Lance got the actor a role as Loretta Young's brother in The Farmer's Daughter (1947). The director of that film, H.C. Potter, recommended that he drop the "u" from his last name and soon thereafter the actor was officially known as James Arness. Little work followed this break,  He appeared in a production of "Candida", and married his leading lady, Virginia Chapman. He began to get small roles with frequency, often, due to his size, villainous characters. Most notable among these was that of the space alien in The Thing from Another World (1951). While playing a Greek warrior in a play, Arness was spotted by agent Charles K. Feldman, who represented John Wayne. Feldman introduced Arness to Wayne, who put the self-described 6' 6" actor under personal contract. Arness played several roles over the next few years for and with Wayne, whom he considered a mentor. In 1955, Wayne recommended Arness for the lead role of Matt Dillon in the TV series Gunsmoke (1955). (Contrary to urban legend, Wayne himself was never offered the role.) Arness at first declined, thinking a TV series could derail his growing film career, but Wayne argued for the show, and Arness accepted. After the cancellation of "Gunsmoke" in 1975, Arness took on another successful Western project, "How The West Was Won." A brief modern police drama, McClain's Law (1981), followed, and Arness played his mentor John Wayne's role in Red River (1988), a remake of the Wayne classic.

Movie Credits

The Thing from Another World

The Thing from Another World‌
star6.7
calendar 1951

Them!

Them!‌
star6.8
calendar 1954

Gunsmoke: To the Last Man

Gunsmoke: To the Last Man‌
star6.5
calendar 1992

Hondo

Hondo‌
star6.5
calendar 1953

Stars in My Crown

Stars in My Crown‌
star6.9
calendar 1950

Battleground

Battleground‌
star6.6
calendar 1949

The Horror Show

The Horror Show‌
star6.0
calendar 1979

Island in the Sky

Island in the Sky‌
star6.2
calendar 1953

The Sea Chase

The Sea Chase‌
star6.1
calendar 1955

Big Jim McLain

Big Jim McLain‌
star5.0
calendar 1952

The People Against O'Hara

The People Against O'Hara‌
star5.7
calendar 1951

Horizons West

Horizons West‌
star5.7
calendar 1952

Wagon Master

Wagon Master‌
star6.7
calendar 1950

Carbine Williams

Carbine Williams‌
star6.3
calendar 1952

Alias Jesse James

Alias Jesse James‌
star5.9
calendar 1959

Iron Man

Iron Man‌
star4.5
calendar 1951

Many Rivers to Cross

Many Rivers to Cross‌
star6.2
calendar 1955

John Wayne Standing Tall

John Wayne Standing Tall‌
star6.0
calendar 1989

Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge

Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge‌
star6.4
calendar 1987

Gun the Man Down

Gun the Man Down‌
star6.3
calendar 1956

Wyoming Mail

Wyoming Mail‌
star4.4
calendar 1950

Sierra

Sierra‌
star5.3
calendar 1950

For the Love of Spock

For the Love of Spock‌
star7.5
calendar 2016

Two Lost Worlds

Two Lost Worlds‌
star4.0
calendar 1951

The Man from Texas

The Man from Texas‌
star6.0
calendar 1948

Roses Are Red

Roses Are Red‌
star5.5
calendar 1947

Gunsmoke: The Last Apache

Gunsmoke: The Last Apache‌
star6.6
calendar 1990

Flame of the Islands

Flame of the Islands‌
star3.5
calendar 1955

The Girl in White

The Girl in White‌
star6.7
calendar 1952

Hellgate

Hellgate‌
star6.7
calendar 1952

Her Twelve Men

Her Twelve Men‌
star5.7
calendar 1954

The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory

The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory‌
star6.7
calendar 1987

The Lone Hand

The Lone Hand‌
star5.2
calendar 1953

Cavalry Scout

Cavalry Scout‌
star5.8
calendar 1951

The First Traveling Saleslady

The First Traveling Saleslady‌
star5.4
calendar 1956

The Veils of Bagdad

The Veils of Bagdad‌
star6.0
calendar 1953

Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice

Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice‌
star6.0
calendar 1994

The Farmer's Daughter

The Farmer's Daughter‌
star6.9
calendar 1947

Red River

Red River‌
star5.6
calendar 1988

Gunsmoke: The Long Ride

Gunsmoke: The Long Ride‌
star5.5
calendar 1993

The Macahans

The Macahans‌
star6.7
calendar 1976

In a Lonely Place

In a Lonely Place‌
star7.6
calendar 1950

Tv Credits

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke‌
star6.5
calendar 1955

How the West Was Won

How the West Was Won‌
star7.0
calendar 1977

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show‌
star6.5
calendar 1948

McClain's Law

McClain's Law‌
star6.5
calendar 1981

Lux Video Theatre

Lux Video Theatre‌
star5.5
calendar 1950

Front Row Center

Front Row Center‌
star4.0
calendar 1945

The Johnny Carson Show

The Johnny Carson Show‌
star7.5
calendar 1955