James Arness also had a daughter named Jenny Lee. He died of natural causes in his Brentwood home in Los Angeles. Courtesy ABC Television. She was 56 years old at the time of her death. When did Rolf Aurnesss father Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. WebJames Arness starred in Gunsmoke for 20 years. He called Janet the next day and asked if he could fly her to the mountains on his private plane (nice move, Jim). He also became the adoptive father to Virginias son Craig. He also starred in Gunsmoke, a western-themed TV series. James Arness married two women in his lifetime the first, a woman with whom he shared three kids, faded into obscurity after their divorce, but the second lady stood by his side till death parted them. Nothing happened for three months. But my son was a really big fan of Gunsmoke and was watching it every Monday night. In her thinking, he probably had countless girls calling him and therefore had to be the one to call her if he was interested in dating her. Despite the litany of movies and TV shows he featured in, James Arnesss name will forever be associated with the CBS series Gunsmoke, where he portrayed the laconic, fair-minded, and incorruptible Marshall Matt Dillon of Dodge City. Though Surtees first got to know the Gunsmoke star when he was already one of the biggest screen idols in America, she refused to be blown away by his fame. James Arness is a member of the following lists: American film actors, American Peter, who changed his last name to Graves, went on to star in the TV series "Mission Impossible. Born May 23, 1950 Died May 12, 1975 (24) Add photos, demo reels Add to list Known for Gunsmoke 8.1 TV Series Amy Laurie 1964 2 eps Credits IMDbPro Actress Previous 1 James Arness "It was a face that would age well and that, while aging, would carry intimations of waste, loss and futility.". He was very polite and friendly.. WebVirginia Chapman. Obviously, Janet accepted. He failed to call her for the next three months, and her employer urged her to reach out. Before then, Surtees attended high school and possibly got a college education, but these facts are unknown for sure. All About Shaquille ONeals Ex-girlfriend, All About Jermaine Jacksons Ex-wife, Hazel Gordy, Who is Tony Berlin? What is Janet Surtees doing after her husbands demise? You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. Arness died of natural causes at the age of 88 at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles on June 3rd, 2011. Why dont you come over and meet him? In his later years, he suffered from constant leg pain, which sometimes became acute, which was often initiated while he was on horses. An initial statement from the hospital and her friends said Blake died of throat cancer. All About Harris Faulkners Husband, Who is Janine Tate? He is best remembered for his role of 'Marshal Matt Dillon' in the long-running television Western "Gunsmoke" (1955 to 1975). He was 88 years old at the time of his demise. 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 Friday. Luckily, Janet didnt hold a grudge and the two went on a second date. According to the family's spokesperson, James died of natural causes at 88. James Arness passed on in 2011 at his home in Brentwood. Then, what happened? They wed in 1948 and had two children, Jenny and Rolf. She was born in 1946 in the United States of America. At the time of his death, James was married to his second wife, Janet Surtees; the couple married in 1978. They dated for a few years before tying the knot in 1978. Before Janet, James was married to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until 1963; the couple had three children, Rolf, Craig, and Jenny Lee, who died of suicide in 1975. [20] Four years after his divorce from Virginia Chapman, James Arness met Thordis Brandt, [21] [22] who was his girlfriend for six years before they ended their relationship. He moved to Hollywood in 1946 at a friend's suggestion. Legal Statement. He received 100 stitches to his lower lip during his stay. Then came "Gunsmoke," which proved a durable hit and a multimillion-dollar boon for Arness, who owned part of the series. Afraid of being typecast, Arness initially rejected it. American Actor James Arness was born James King Aurness on 26th May, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA and passed away on 3rd Jun 2011 Brentwood, California, USA aged 88. James Arness A decade from that time, Janet Surtees remains satisfied to pursue her life out of the spotlight. After a slow start in which he took jobs as a carpenter and salesman, a role in MGM's "Battleground" (1949) was a career turning point. KVS and SoftRight customers now have the ability to upgrade to Springbrooks new Cirrus cloud platform: Actor Dennis Weaver Dead At 81 She was previously married to James Arness and Leo Myron Morton. The actor died in his sleep at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer.Arness' official website posted a letter from Arness on Friday that he wrote with the intention that it be posted posthumously: "I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends," he said. James Arness Janet Surtees Weaver died Friday from complications of cancer at his home in Ridgway, in southwestern Colorado, his publicist, Julian Myers, announced Monday. Janet arrived before Jim and nervously waited for him to arrive. His close pals figured that he needed some assistance on the dating front, and one of those that took this task to heart was his makeup artist on Gunsmoke. He worked for National Geographic in the 70s and 80s and produced several books and stories or them. Sister of Craig Aurness and Rolf Aurness. WebThe Gunsmoke star was 60 when she died on Aug. 16, 1989, at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. If Gunsmoke icon James Arness was a Tinder date, he would be the worst. She survived him. Gunsmoke: Amanda Blakes Official Cause of Death Wasnt What As U.S. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. James Arness James Arness Called Wife Best Part Arness even looked at how the West was won by McClains Rule. She died on 12 May 1975 in Malibu, California, USA. Buzzsouthafrica.com copyright 2023. And I thought, Eew, an actor I dont know,' said Janet laughing. However, her sons love for Gunsmoke convinced her to go. He was a classmate of Waynes and introduced him to the first episode of GunSmoke in 1955. Janet Surteess Husband Death Arness died of natural causes at the age of 88 at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles on June 3rd, 2011. However, Wayne would pass on the role and refer it to his friend Your success with Springbrook software is my first priority., 1000 SW Broadway, Suite 1900, Portland, OR 97205 United States, Cloud financial platform for local government, Payment Solution agency savings calculator, Springbrook Survey Shows Many Government Employees Still Teleworking, Springbrook Software Announces Strongest Third Quarter in Companys 35-year History Powered by New Cirrus Cloud Platform, Springbrook Debuts New Mobile App for Field Work Orders, Springbrook Software Releases New Government Budgeting Tool, GovTech: Springbrook Software Buys Property Tax Firm Publiq for ERP, Less training for new hires through an intuitive design, Ease of adoption for existing Springbrook users, Streamlined navigationwithjust a few simple clicks. She said, I am sure Jim has countless girls calling him. Nothing. James is an actor best known for the TV series and TV movie franchise Gunsmoke. 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 Friday. Enjoy reading!! Virginia Chapman was born on 14 June 1921 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Although Arness was a very famous actor, they avoided the spotlight, limiting their public appearance to the occasional ceremony to honor Arness. Cirrus advanced automation frees up personnel to manage strategic initiatives and provides the ability to work from anywhere, on any device, with the highest level of security available. The makeup artist discussed Arness with his wife, who owned a clothing store, and the two decided to set the actor up on a date with one of the clothing stores employees named Janet Surtees. The late James Arness was, without doubt, one of the biggest western icons in Hollywood history, and along with him on his glorious journey was his wife, Janet Surtees. The union produced two children, a son named Rolf and a daughter named Jenny Lee. James Arness He died from natural causes. The wealth and fame Arness gained from "Gunsmoke" could not protect him from tragedy in his personal life: His daughter and his former wife, Virginia, both died of drug overdoses. There are not many details on where he resides or what he does for a living. "You're too big for pictures. I was like, Oh my gosh, he is a big guy,' said Janet with a laugh. Contribute to this page Suggest an edit or add missing content Learn more about contributing They helped each other achieve several feats and built a loving home for the children from past relationships. Previously, she was married to James Arness and Leo Myron Morton. Born in 1950, she had trouble with drug use for several years and died of a drug overdose at 25. His longtime co-stars were Blake as saloon keeper Miss Kitty, Milburn Stone as Doc Adams and Dennis Weaver as the deputy, Chester Goode. The popular media widely reported that Blakes doctor claimed that she had actually died of Aids. She died on May 12, 1975 in Malibu, California, USA. According to the coroner's office, she was found dead in her beach home. Janet is 75 years old as of January 2021. 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. She survived him. He was a major city police officer in the film, Red River, a remake of the classic Red River in 1948. 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. She continues to devote her time to charity activities and her grandkids. WebThe Gunsmoke star was 60 when she died on Aug. 16, 1989, at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento. He later left Nat Geo to co-found his stock photo agency, Westlight. No details exist about who his father is, but Arness gladly accepted Jim into their family, and they all lived together while he was in his formative years. Several Hollywood stars have gone ahead to marry ordinary individuals, and one of them was the late James Arness. He entered Beloit College in Wisconsin, but was drafted into the Army in his 1942-43 freshman year. Another accomplished son that Arness was Rolf Arness. Bruce Boxleitner - True West Magazine Dr. Nishimura, an internist in Sacramento said that she suffered from AIDS for about a year. James Arness died on the 3rd day of June 2011 in his home, and right by his side was his wife. All rights reserved. ", The years showed on the weathered-looking Arness, but he -- and his TV character -- wore them well. After having undergone multiple surgeries, he was honorably discharged from the Army on January 29, 1945.