- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- May 26, 1923
- Place of Birth
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Died
- June 3, 2011
James Arness
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 …
Filmography
movieGunsmoke: One Man's Justice
1994 · Matt Dillon, Executive Producer
movieGunsmoke: The Long Ride
1993 · Matt Dillon, Executive Producer
movieGunsmoke: To the Last Man
1992 · Matt Dillon
movieGunsmoke: The Last Apache
1990 · Matt Dillon
John Wayne Standing Tall
movieJohn Wayne Standing Tall
1989 · Self - Host
movieRed River
1988 · Thomas Dunson
movieThe Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory
1987 · Jim Bowie
movieGunsmoke: Return to Dodge
1987 · Matt Dillon
tvMcClain's Law
1981 · Det. Jim McClain
movieThe Horror Show
1979 · (archive footage)
tvHow the West Was Won
1977 · Zeb Macahan
movieThe Macahans
1976 · Zeb Macahan
movieWhy Vietnam?
1965 · Narrator
movieAlias Jesse James
1959 · Marshal Matt Dillon (uncredited)
movieThe Western: A Lost TV Special
1958 · Self
movieGun the Man Down
1956 · Rem Anderson
movieThe First Traveling Saleslady
1956 · Joel Kingdom
movieFlame of the Islands
1955 · Kelly Rand
tvGunsmoke
1955 · Marshal Matt Dillon, Producer
tvThe Johnny Carson Show
1955
movieThe Sea Chase
1955 · Schlieter
movieMany Rivers to Cross
1955 · Esau Hamilton
movieHer Twelve Men
1954 · Ralph Munsey
movieThem!
1954 · FBI Agent Robert Graham
movieHondo
1953 · Lennie
movieThe Veils of Bagdad
1953 · Targut
movieIsland in the Sky
1953 · Mac McMullen
movieThe Lone Hand
1953 · Gus Varden
movieHorizons West
1952 · Tiny McGilligan
movieHellgate
1952 · George Redfield
movieBig Jim McLain
1952 · Mal Baxter
movieThe Girl in White
1952 · Matt
movieCarbine Williams
1952 · Leon Williams
tvThe Red Skelton Show
1951 · Self
movieIron Man
1951 · Alex Mallick
movieThe People Against O'Hara
1951 · John Fordman 'Johnny' O'Hara
movieCavalry Scout
1951 · Barth
movieThe Thing from Another World
1951 · 'The Thing'
movieTwo Lost Worlds
1951 · Kirk Hamilton
movieWyoming Mail
1950 · Russell
Lux Video Theatre
tvLux Video Theatre
1950 · Chuck Scott
movieSierra
1950 · Little Sam (as Jim Arness)
movieIn a Lonely Place
1950 · Young Detective (uncredited)
movieStars in My Crown
1950 · Rolfe Isbell (uncredited)
movieWagon Master
1950 · Floyd Clegg
movieBattleground
1949 · Garby
tvThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self
movieThe Man from Texas
1948 · (uncredited)
movieRoses Are Red
1947 · Ray (as James Aurness)
movieThe Farmer's Daughter
1947 · Peter Holstrom (as James Aurness)
Front Row Center
tvFront Row Center
1945