He began taking his acting career more seriously when he began to receive fan mail following the release of the Young picture. This would have cost roughly $150,000 now. She has inherited all of her late husband's James Arness asset. His work was so good that he received the Best Photo of the Year and Best Photograph Awards. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. James Arness, full name, James King Aurness (May 26, 1923 June 3, 2011) was an American actor who was best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS television series Gunsmoke for 20 years. James was one of the famous actors in America who worked on three different entertainment platforms. But, both James and Janet had kids from their previous relationships. He is also one of the most famous athletes and is regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. According to our Database, He has no children. In 1955, Wayne recommended Arness for the lead role of Matt Dillon in the TV series Gunsmoke (1955). Post-divorce, James married Janet Surtees in 1978. The 71 years old, the world champion is not available on any social media accounts. Robert Graham. Actor James Arness of TV's 'Gunsmoke' poses for a photo 1969 in Los Angeles, California.| Source: Getty Images. 2019 Happy LifeStyle Trends. Sadly, their daughter Jenny died of a drug overdose in 1975. No, the duo didnt have any biological children. He died on 14th December 2004 in Panorama City, California. After winning the World Surfing Championship victory, Rolf Aurness dropped out of surfing because several family members died. Chapmans son from her first marriage, Craig, was adopted by Arness. Already, he showed some of Marshal Matt Dillon's determination when he then hitchhiked all the way to Hollywood, the better to start scoping out agents and . Janet Surtees' Husband's Death This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This fort is a primary center for government forces. By age, children typically outlive their parents. Born: 1946 The average median price of a home in the city is $650,000. Arch ManningContinue. Image date May 4, 1957.| Source: Getty Images Advertisement He drifted around Mexico for some time; then, he returned to Hollywood with a burning desire to become an actor. His primary source of income was his career as a photographer. Celebrities and Famous People Who Passed Away Today in History. Although, his casting for this show was another story. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Red River (1988) (2,009) 6.0 1 h 35 min 1988 7+. Feldman introduced Arness to Wayne, who put the self-described 6', 6" actor under personal contract. James Arness on "How The West Was Won" - Airdate: February 12, 1978. He notes his break into acting in movies and lists several in which he appeared. Craig Aurness Cause of Death Craig died on December 14, 2004 in Panorama City, California. This article discusses the personal life, career, body measurements, social media, father, and net worth of Rolf Aurness. Aurness is 70 years old as of 2022. He was shipped to Naples in December 1943 and was wounded two months later by German machine-gun fire at Anzio. She spent around six years working in the shop. He was famous for playing the character of Matt Dillon in the TV series Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1975. Rolf was born in 1952, and at only nine years, he had a severe fall and fractured his skull, and in an attempt to have him recover, his father, who had been a surfer for many years, started training him to surf. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. After he was discharged, only then did Arness start work relatively close to entertainment. Aurness had been getting therapy for issues with his lungs and anemia. Rolf was a surfer. Rolf was a Norwegian and his wife, Ruth was a journalist. She was nearly 26 years old. Besides, Lee had two brothers one older Craig Arness and one younger Rolf Arness. And a short character of Peter in The Farmers Daughter gave him the break. He first shared wedding vows with Virginia Chapman in 1948. Son of Peter Andreas Olsen Aursnes and Ida M. Cirkler Husband of Ruth Eleanore Salisbury Duesler Father of James Arness and Peter Graves. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. He implemented a strict training regimen of dawn sessions at beaches, long distance swimming and weekend beach trips, including the Hollister Ranch. He was only two at the time. 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. Likewise, James did the course and with a teachers recommendation, he began his career in the world of entertainment. A self-described drifter, Arness left home at age 18, hopping freight trains and Caribbean-bound freighters. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Their second son, Rolf Aurness was born on February 18, 1952, and is currently 70 years old. Everything About Her Marriage & Boyfriends, Nanabah Hill: Everything To Know About Charlie Hills Daughter, United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation, Who is Tiffany Ortiz? She was also the sister of Rolf Arness and Craig. Jenny had a 4-year gap with her elder brother, while just a 2-year gap with her little one. The National Press Photographers Association honored his work for the magazine with honors for Best Photograph and Best Photo of the Year in the Magazine Pictorial Division. Remembering Matt Dillon -James Arness suffered the suicide of his daughter and death of his son and passed away in 2011 at 88; brother was actor Peter Graves (Mission Impossible), COPYRIGHT 2020 By TheLifeandTimesofHollywood.com, Peter, who changed his last name to Graves, Stories From The Life and Times of Hollywood. Arness with his son, Rolf, in 1959. He had a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death in 2011. Unfortunately, only 11 days to her 25th birthday, Jenny overdosed on sleeping pills and passed on in May 1975. He won the 1970 World Surfing Championships held at Johanna in Victoria, Australia, beating Midget Farrelly in the finals. The Norwegian-German Arness had to dye his naturally blond hair darker to Matt Dillon's part in the famous TV show. He worked in the series from 1955-75. He took pride in the surfing prowess of his younger son, Rolf, who became a World Surfing Champion in 1970 at age 18. Virginia was known for her work in the Matinee Theatre, Highway Patrol, and Whirlybirds. He now lives a private life in Los Angeles and regularly volunteers at a Santa Monica mental health clinic. And that is the main reason for coming up with this article with all the interesting facts about James Arness. Rolf was born under the astrological sign Aquarius. 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Later, he joined the US Army and moved to Fort Snelling. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Moving towards her birth details, Janet was born on February 15, 1947, in the United States of America. One day, the actor himself came over for dinner where Janet was working, and the two had their first-ever encounter. Detroit Lions: Tim Boyle Salary And Net Worth: His Family Ethnicity And Religion. The Untold Truth of David Ortizs Wife, Who Is Boban Marjanovics Wife Milica Krsti? 1. The lovely family of 5 lived in a beautiful home at Cape Cod Cottage in Pacific Palisades before things went south. He now lives his quiet life together with his family in his hometown. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. Subsequently, his body was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale in California. Well, James's beautiful widow Janet Surtees is now living a happy single life and is busy with charity works. With his brother Peter Graves, he grew up in his hometown. Parents: James Arness, Virginia Chapman After spending some quality time together, they came back home, and James told his future wife he was going to Alaska and would call her only after his return from there. He also starred in Gunsmoke, a western-themed TV series. His father, reported to be an enthusiastic surfer,[3] used surfing to help his son recover. James Arness' Second Wife. Arness studied at the Bliss-Hayden Theatre School under actor Harry Hayden, and while appearing in a play there was spotted by agent Leon Lance. After a few days, they went to Red Ridge Meadows, Mammoth Lakes. 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. Net Worth- $8 Million Janet Surtees now enjoys a million dollars net worth. His first assignment for National Geographic was published in 1978, and he spent the next ten years traveling the world and writing seven more National Geographic pieces as well as several books. They had one daughter Jenny Lee Arness in 1950 and a son Rolf Arness in 1952. After years of working together, Janet and the owner became friends. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rolf_Aurness&oldid=1140316173, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 14:39. After playing the role for over 20 years, he earned three Emmy nominations and other numerous awards. James attended three schools in Minneapolis as John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School. Rolf Aurness was born on February 18, 1952, in Santa Monica, California. [5], His father, well known Western and Gunsmoke television show actor James Arness, died on June 3, 2011.[6]. The "Gunsmoke" star, who passed on in 2011, outlived his beloved daughter by 36 years. His son Craig, a former National Geographic photographer who became a stock photo agent and then an Alpaca breeder, died in 2004. Died: December 14, 2004 Rolf was a Norwegian and his wife, Ruth was a journalist. Other than that, Jamess name was present in different halls of fame as the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street and the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. He is the first of his parents' two children and has a . She brings enthusiasm to her work with just the right amount of positivity. She loves singing, and if you wanna hear her strum her guitar, go ahead and follow her on Twitter if you want. In 1945, he started his long and interesting profession as a radio announcer in Minnesota. She is currently into charity work. After high school, he attended one semester at Beloit College before receiving his draft notice in 1943. However, they mostly maintaineda low profile and were appeared in public in rare times. Your email address will not be published. For this performance, he received the honorary title of US Marshal and was an official badge. His corpse was laid to rest in the Sanctuary of Abiding Hope alcove in the Jasmine Terrace area of Forest Lawn Memorial Parks Great Mausoleum in Glendale, California. He served in the U.S. Army during the draft of World War II, but his. One of their rare outings was their joint appearance during a signing of James book James Arness: An Autobiographyin 2001 in Los Angeles. Dear Rolf, many years have gone by since I saw you but I still remember all of the family. [1] [2] Surfing career [ edit] When he was nine Aurness suffered a skull fracture after falling from a tree. Over the years, the actor rented or bought homes near surfing beaches and ski slopes that let him share his outdoor passions with his children. His uniform decorations included the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, the EuropeanAfricanMiddle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. . Arness has the distinction of portraying Dillon in five decades: on the weekly series from 1955 to 1975, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made-for-television Gunsmoke features in the 1990s. Jim McClain, etc. Moreover, his father is James Arness, a Gunsmoke actor and the nephew of Peter Graves, Mission Impossible actor. He was 88. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Son Rolf, daughter Jenny Lee and Chapman's son from a previous relationship, Craig, who Arness adopted as his own. Uncle: Peter Graves. John Wayne helped Jim get his greatest success ever as Marshal Matt Dillon in a new show called Gunsmoke in 1955. His first marriage was to Virginia Chapman; an actress. He founded the stock photography agency Westlight. Marshal Dillon in the 1955-75 CBS Western series, Arness created an indelible portrait of a quiet, heroic man with an unbending dedication to justice and the town he protected. James Arness is known for his famous role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the Gunsmoke series. Arness married Janet Surtees in 1978. Aurness had not gone public with his relationship, it was not publicly known whether he was marriedor in arelationship. Despite their long-time marriage, the two remained low-profile about their love life throughout their relationship. The couple tied the knot in 1978 in a private wedding ceremony. His source of income includes acting in films, tv shows, and stage shows. Loretta Young. Age, Height, Net Worth, Inside The Life Of Diane Addonizio: All About The Wife of Howie Long, Facts about Molly Yehs husband Nick Hagen: His Family Life, Work, and Personal Life, Who Is Molly Yeh Husband? Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness, had formerly been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. Jenny was born in 1950. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Finally, the duo tied the knot in 1978 in an intimate wedding ceremony. He was admitted to 91st General Hospital in Clinton, Lowa. James Arness is the first son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler. James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 - June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. Aurness launched Westlight stock picture firm with photographer Charles ORear, one of the first to specialize on the international market. Arness was said to be struggling after her breakup with Greg Allman, and she took a deadly amount of drugs as a result. He was 88. His wife died of cancer in 1978, and his mother, Virginia, died in 1976. He took an interest in playing jazz piano and even married an astrologer, who passed on in 1978. The marriage foundered and in 1963 Arness sought a divorce and custody of the three children, which he was granted. Prior to her death, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He won the World Surfing Championship in 1970. The two had a lot of fun there. Firstly, he was nominated for the Emmy awards thrice in 1957, 58, and 59. In the 1970s, he apprenticed with Look magazine. His other television credits include The Lone Ranger, The Macahans, Front Row Center, and McClain's Law. He gained people attention when he starred as Matt Dillon in the series, Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1975. It was really interesting about the macho culture. (Arness would later say that Matt's . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. He had a lifelong affiliation with the Methodist church. , went on to star in the TV series Mission Impossible.. After that, he went to Beloit College. His father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness, and mother, Ruth Duesler, had him as the eldest son. He died in 2009 when he hanged himself. His younger brother Peter, also an actor, chose the name Graves for his credits, which included the Mission Impossible television series. James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Who is Rolf Aurness? James Arness in Gunsmoke / Everett Collection. He kept to a schedule that let him spend months away from Hollywood as an avid surfer, sailor, skier and pilot. Gone public with his relationship, it was not publicly known whether was... 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