22 Facts About James Arness

James Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge and four more made-for-television Gunsmoke films in the 1990s.

In Europe, Arness reached cult status for his role as Zeb Macahan in the Western series How the West Was Won.

James Arness was the older brother of actor Peter Graves.

James Arness's parents were businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler.

James Arness attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis.

James Arness entered Beloit College that fall, where he joined the campus choir and became a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

James Arness was drafted into the US Army and reported to Fort Snelling in Hennepin County, Minnesota in March 1943.

James Arness was severely wounded in his right leg during the Battle of Anzio, and medically evacuated from Italy to the US, where he was sent to the 91st General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa.

James Arness's wounds continued to trouble him, though, throughout the remainder of his life.

James Arness made his movie debut at RKO, which immediately changed his name from "Aurness".

James Arness was credited in The Farmer's Daughter as Aurness.

James Arness starred in Gun the Man Down, a fast-paced Western, for Wayne's production company.

James Arness starred in a 1988 TV remake of Wayne's 1948 classic Red River, appearing in Wayne's role as Tom Dunson.

The Norwegian-German James Arness had to dye his naturally blond hair darker for the role.

James Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948, and adopted her son Craig.

Craig James Arness founded the stock photography agency Westlight and was a photographer for National Geographic.

When Virginia and James divorced in 1960, Arness was granted legal custody of the children.

Four years after his divorce from Virginia Chapman, James Arness met Thordis Brandt, who was his girlfriend for six years before they ended their relationship.

James Arness disdained publicity and banned reporters from the Gunsmoke set.

James Arness was said to be a shy and sensitive man who enjoyed poetry, yacht racing, and surfing.

James Arness died from natural causes at the age of 88 years at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles on June 3,2011.

James Arness was inducted into the Santa Clarita Walk of Western Stars in 2006, and gave a related TV interview.