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01
He appeared in all 635 episodes of Gunsmoke 1955.
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02
In 1968, he donated his 1,400-acre ranch in northern Los Angeles County to the Brandis Institute.
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03
His best friend and younger brother Peter Graves passed away on March 14, 2010, just four days before his 84th birthday.
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04
On June 20, 2005, he was honored at Los Angeles City Hall with a resolution celebrating his life’s work and his heroism during World War II.
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05
He had to dye his naturally blond hair for the role of Matt Dillon, since dark hair was considered more masculine.
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06
After his last role in the episode Gunsmoke: One Man’s Justice 1994, he retired from acting at age 71.
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07
During his career, this large actor often had co-stars stand on apple boxes or performed standing in a ditch to fit in a shot.
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08
He made four movies with his close friend John Wayne during the 1950s. Wayne personally recommended him for the lead role in Gunsmoke.
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09
He was named an honorary U.S. Marshal in recognition of his contribution to the image and traditions of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
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10
According to a 1959 Time magazine article, Arness stood 6’7, weighed 235 lbs, and had chest-waist-hips measurements of 48-36-36, though he often gave his height as 6’6.
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11
He graduated from West High School in Minneapolis in 1942, studied for a year at Beloit College, then was drafted into the U.S. Army. During the invasion of Anzio, his right leg was shattered by machine-gun fire, resulting in part of his foot being lost. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
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12
He and his brother Peter Graves never acted onscreen together; however, Graves directed Arness in the episode Which Dr. 1966.
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13
He was inducted as a cast member of Gunsmoke into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1981.
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14
He did not attend the premiere of The Thing from Another World 1951 because he found his role as the Thing embarrassing; he felt the makeup made him look like a giant carrot.
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15
James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just one week after his 88th birthday.
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16
He and Kelsey Grammer both hold the record for playing the same character the longest 20 years, but Arness’s 635 episodes as Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke far exceed Grammer’s 467 as Frasier Crane.
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17
Following his death, he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
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18
He became Marshal Matt Dillon after John Wayne suggested him for the role. Contrary to legend, Wayne was offered the role initially.
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19
He was self-conscious about his height and was happy when measures were taken to obscure his towering stature while filming Gunsmoke.
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20
He fought in the U.S. Army during WWII, taking part in the landing at Anzio where he was wounded. He received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three stars, WWII Victory Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
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21
Despite being friends with Robert Fuller and James Drury, he never appeared on episodes of their series because Warner Bros. would not lend its contract players to competitors.
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22
Gunsmoke shut down production for four days in early December 1958 because Arness had burned his eyes under a sunlamp at home.
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23
He sailed many times with Buddy Ebsen.
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24
In a 2001 interview, he confirmed he was completely retired because he no longer had the stamina for acting.
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25
He began his career as a contract player for John Wayne’s production company Batjac Productions in 1952.
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26
He was in the 3rd Infantry Division alongside Audie Murphy; Murphy was in the 15th Infantry Regiment and Arness in the 7th Infantry Regiment. Both landed at Sicily and Anzio.
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27
He appeared in one film nominated for Best Picture Oscar: Battleground 1949.
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28
Before becoming an actor, he was a radio announcer in Minneapolis.
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29
He is survived by his wife Janet Surtees, son Rolf, stepson Jim Surtees, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. His adopted son Craig died in 2004 and daughter Jenny in 1975.
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30
His friendship with John Wayne ended in 1959 when Arness failed to show up for a meeting about a role in The Alamo, and Wayne never forgave him.
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31
His status as a Republican disappointed Lady Bird Johnson, a huge fan of Gunsmoke.
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32
He had a lifelong affiliation with the Methodist church.
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33
He was the father of Jenny Lee Arness born May 23, 1950 and Rolf Aurness born February 18, 1952 with Virginia Arness, and adopted her son Craig born 1946.
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34
His daughter Jenny Lee Arness committed suicide on May 12, 1975.
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35
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street on February 8, 1960.
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36
He never played the lead male role in a theatrical movie, only on the televised incarnations of Gunsmoke. In films, he acted alongside tall leading men like John Wayne, Robert Ryan, and Jeff Chandler.
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37
He held the record for longest continuous role by a single actor on prime-time TV 20 years as Marshal Matt Dillon until Kelsey Grammer tied it in 2004.
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38
Kelsey Grammer once called Arness to discuss a public relations passing-of-the-torch event, but Arness said nothing and hung up.
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39
His ex-wife Virginia Arness passed away on July 29, 1977 at age 56.
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40
Though never married, he had a long-term relationship and lived with actress Thordis Brandt.
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41
He was a longtime resident of the Brentwood area of Los Angeles with his second wife Janet Surtees.
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42
He was touted as the tallest leading man in Hollywood, though that title has since been taken by others.
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43
He attended Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
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44
He never appeared in a theatrical film after 1959.
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45
He was the son of Rolf Aurness and Ruth Duesler, who divorced in the 1940s.
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46
One of Harry Morgan’s sons was a friend of his children and once spent the night at his ranch.
