James Arness

Photo of James Arness

Biography

Prior to the show's launch, Arness was a World War II hero-turned-actor who struggled to find substantive roles, largely due to his towering height; the best of these was as the title monster in "The Thing from Another World" (1951). John Wayne took an interest in Arness and helped him to land the role on "Gunsmoke," which would dominate the majority of his career for 20 years. After its cancellation, the actor appeared in several subsequent …
Read More »

Job Title

Actor, Producer, Consultants & Advisors

Born

James King Aurness on May 26, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Career Milestones

Joined a theater group while recovering from severe wounds incurred during WWII

1947

First film as James Arness, "Roses Are Red"

1947

Made feature acting debut in "The Farmer's Daughter" (billed as James Aurness)

1949

Portrayed GI Garby in William Wellman's WWII epic "Battleground"

1950

Had supporting role in John Ford's "Wagon Master"

1950

Played title role in "The Thing/The Thing from Another World"

1952

First film with John Wayne, Edward Ludwig's "Big Jim McClain"

1953

Re-teamed with Wayne for Wellman's "Island in the Sky" and John Farrow's "Hondo"

1954

Acted in the sci-fi feature "Them!"

1955

Final film with Wayne, John Farrow's "The Sea Chase"

1955

Portrayed Marshall Matt Dillon in the long-running CBS series "Gunsmoke"

1956

Second film with Ludwig, "Flame of the Islands"

1957

Played a bank robber who hunts down the companions that abandoned him in "Gun the Man Down"

1959

Made a cameo as Matt Dillon in "Alias Jesse James"

1976

Portrayed Zeb Macahan in the ABC movie "The Macahans"

1977

Reprised Zeb Macahan role in ABC miniseries "How the West Was Won"

1978

Again played Zeb Macahan in the ABC series "How the West Was Won"

1981

Starred as Detective Jim McClain in the NBC series "McClain's Law"

1987

Played Jim Bowie in the NBC movie "The Alamo: 13 Days to Glory"

1987

Returned to the role of Marshall Dillon in the first of five CBS-TV movies, "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge"

1988

Acted in the CBS remake of Howard Hawks' 1948 movie "Red River"; portrayed the John Wayne role of Tom Dunson

1993

Executive produced and starred as Matt Dillon in the CBS movie "Gunsmoke: The Long Ride"

1994

Executive produced and starred as Matt Dillon in the CBS movie "Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice"

Awards

1957

Primetime Emmy Award for Best Continuing Performance By an Actor in Gunsmoke

1958

Primetime Emmy Award for Best Continuing Performance By an Actor In a Leading in Gunsmoke

1959

Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor In a Leading Role (Continuing Character) In a in Gunsmoke