or redistributed. After appearing on The Farmers Daughter, Arness dropped the u in his name and would be credited as James Arness for the rest of his life. AP Television Writer David Bauder and Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle in New York contributed to this story. Weaver wasn't immediately taken with Deputy Chester Goode, his character in "Gunsmoke," he wrote in his 2001 autobiography, "All the World's a Stage.". That was too bad, because we were on two hours every night, seven days a week.. Kelly Dale Anderson, Read More Kelly Dale Anderson: The Mystery Adoption Story, Bio, ParentsContinue, Your email address will not be published. The years showed on the weathered-looking Arness, but he and his TV character wore them well. Guest stars included Ricardo Montalban as Satangkai, a chief of the Sioux Nation, Ron Hayes as Sheriff Pinter, Med Flory (three episodes as a sheriff), Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr., Harry Lauter as Sheriff Charlie Benton, Gregg Palmer as Loman, Tom Simcox as Marshal Logan, Read Morgan as Morton in "The Slavers", and John M. Pickard as Colonel Caine, James Stephens as C. L. Bradley (the pilot and two episodes), and Jim Turner (three episodes). Characters and actors came and went in tales that often focused on travelers passing through on their way west. He later played the character in five made-for-TV movies that aired between 1987 and 1993. Ava Dash is an American philanthropist and author. Like his daughter, Arness's first wife, Chapman, died of a drug overdose in 1977, two years after the couple's daughter passed away. "You're too big for pictures. But there is more to the actor than his impressive run as Marshal Matt Dillon. The thick walls helped keep the inside temperature even year-round. Her name is Janet Surtees and the two were married for 33 years. . His real issue though was his height. 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. Bruce Boxleitner's character was renamed "Luke", and William Kirby Cullen's character renamed "Josh". The former star of St. Louis-based reality-TV show "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for arranging the shooting death of his nephew to collect a life . This story was originally published July 25, 2017, 7:00 AM. In its 20-year run, there had been 635 episodes. "Fortunately, there aren't many times when show business intrudes on our family existence." Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. Who is Lucia-Belen Duffy? Where is Buster Murdaugh? And his mother's name is Ruth Duesler who was from Germany and was a journalist by the profession. He died in March 2010. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Universal Studios signed Weaver to a contract in 1952 but found little work for him. He gets a letter from Mike asking him to come to her ranch. In addition to "Gentle Ben," which lasted two seasons in the mid-1960s, he starred in "Kentucky Jones," "Emerald Point N.A.S.," "Stone" and "Buck James.". A more accurate list of the 14 episodes from season 2 can be found inside the Season 2 DVD case released in July 2014. By Daniel S. Levine A prolific and versatile paperback scribe whose credits include winning a Western Writers of America Spur Award for his novel The Spirit Horses, Cameron's novelization adapted teleplays and screen stories by Calvin Clements, Colley Cibber, Howard Fast, William Kelley, John Mantley, Katharyn Michaelian, Jack Miller and Earl W. Wallace. As the plot thickens, Matt has another problem besides his physical wounds he cant remember his past. Read More Ava Dash (Dame Dashs Daughter) Age, College, Boyfriend, Lipstick alley, Parents, Net WorthContinue, Kylie Jenners Son Wolf Webster Kylie Jenner and her partner Travis Scott welcomed their first son and second child together Wolf Webster. His father James Arness died of natural causes at the age of 88 years at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. Luke heads east to look for his father and grandparents but gets home, only to find his grandparents were killed by artillery fire that struck their home during the First Battle of Bull Run. The actor died in his sleep at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer. When Weaver died in February 2006, Arness called it a big loss for me personally and said Weaver provided comic relief but was also a real person doing things that were very important to the show., The cancellation of Gunsmoke didnt keep Arness away from TV for long: He returned a few months later, in January 1976, in the TV movie The Macahans, which led to the 1978-79 ABC series How the West Was Won.. In January 1978, a nearly 400-page "epic length" paperback novelization of a number of early episodes, written by Lou Cameron, was published by Ballantine Books. James Arness was born in Minneapolis in 1913 as the son of businessman Rolf Arness and his wife, Ruth, who was a journalist. Kevin Costners Lawyer Calls Yellowstone S5 Report Ridiculous, Kevin Costners Yellowstone Pay Revealed: $1.5 Million Per Episode As New Report Details Hes Demanding Even More To Promote Show, 10 Interesting Facts About The Classic Western Gunsmoke, 1 Disgusted Gunsmoke Fan Letter Changed How Milburn Stone Played a Doc Adams Habit, Gunsmokes Doc actually grew up in an authentic tiny Old Western town in Kansas, Gunsmoke James Arness and his wife: From a fateful meeting to Hollywoods most beautiful love story, Gunsmoke: Why Milburn Stone Called James Arness The Most Unhypocritical Man. Can you guess the show by the first and last episode titles? FILE - A customer picks up some food to-go from Sweetie Pie's owner Robbie Montgomery, center, and Montgomery's son, James "Tim" Norman, right, at Sweetie Pie's in St. Louis, April 19, 2011. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. Who is Kelly Dale Anderson? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. So in this article, we have covered every single detail of what exactly happened from the start of this unfortunate incident to the judgment day. He spoke at the United Nations and Congress, as well as to college students and school children about fighting pollution. He talked about his father was trying tofind ways to overcome his addiction, including his admission to a rehab center in late 2018. Although best known for his work in such shows as Cannon and Jake and the Fatman, Conrad was the original Matt Dillon on the Gunsmoke radio series, which ran from 1952 to 1961 and whose scripts and dialogue often were adapted into TV episodes. Arness and Surtees were married for over 35 years at the time of his death in 2011. James Arness portrayed Marshal Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke" for 20 years after the series debuted in 1955. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years.". Miffed, the owner of the Long Branch Saloon continues on her own, only to be saved by handsome gunslinger Will Stambridge (, Heres what the BNDs Answer Man had to say about Olivia de Havilland in a 2015 column, Lottery player thought she won $500. Peter, who changed his last name to Graves, went on to star in the TV series Mission Impossible.. Missouri clerk tells her to look at the screen, Fallout over missing Troy mans autopsy report revolves around bad smell in home, Goofy dog had no adoption inquiries for months. But he became the best-known tin star of his era, portraying the towering, weathered marshal for 20 years, from 1955 to 1975. 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 in 2011 He was 88. He had been reared in a family of Norwegian descent in Minnesota and became an . Arness would become associated with Westerns, but his breakthrough role was in the 1951 science fiction movie The Thing from Another World. Besides being a golfer, Wood is a father to his, Read More Tiger Woods Children, Son Charlie and Daughter SamContinue. "Justice" would be Arness' final screen appearance even though he did not die until 2011 at age 88. He served in the Battle of Anzio during World War II. He served as president of Love Is Feeding Everyone, which fed 150,000 needy people a week in Los Angeles County. While Busters whereabouts at the time of his loved ones murder are not made clear in the Netflix documentary series. Off-screen, Weaver served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and was a vegetarian and activist for environmental and charitable causes. Arness' remains are interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Exactly How Bad Is the Rumored Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan Feud? Ironically, it aired the night before the death of actor William Conrad. written by Allison Hambrick January 2, 2022 11:18 am. Craig Aurness, known for his work in National Geographic, died Dec. 14, 2004, in Panorama City, Calif. Aurness had been undergoing treatment for lung and anemia complications. "He provided comic relief but was also a real person doing things that were very important to the show. After being accused of misappropriation of funds, going to a drug rehabilitation center, and being arrested on allegations of hiring a hitman to shoot him in the head on September 4 so that Buster could receive a $10 million life insurance policy. Then shelter shared desperate plea, Sweet doggy named King is left at Burger King, IL cops say. He did an outstanding job in the lead role of U.S. Pick: Do you consider these musicians one-hit wonders? The Gunsmoke actors actually drank beer, but the whiskey was tea or colored water. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. The emotionally troubled Virginia Arness attempted suicide twice, in 1959 and in 1960. Arness died on June 3, 2011, at age 88 from natural causes. In the next few years he was in dozens of films, including Big Jim McLain (1952) and Hondo (1953), which both starred John Wayne. Arness had hoped to serve as a pilot but thought his poor eyesight would be a problem. A wartime leg wound made it painful for him to mount a horse. (1987), which reunited James Arness, Amanda Blake, Buck Taylor and Fran Ryan from the original series. The show was still in the Top 30 when it was canceled in 1975. Tiger Woods is a professional golf player who ranks second in mens major championships and holds numerous golf records. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), 11 new Disney Food & Wine Festival foods ranked from best to worst See the list, Rowdy crowd temporarily pauses Rolling Loud fest, but the party continues in Inglewood. As it turned out, of course, they shared a lot more than just a kiss during those chilly nights in the old farm cabin. Required fields are marked *. While James dropped the "u" for his stage name, his brother, Peter, used the maternal family name, "Graves," for his stage moniker. How the West was Won has been released in Scandinavia as Familjen Macahan(Sweden) and Familien Macahan(Norway)(Macahan Family) in 5 boxes: The series was remastered and released in 2012, also in 5 boxes (Box 1 August 31; Boxes 2-5 - September 25), as well as a complete box November 21, 2012. The ratings declined until 1967, when color and a new time slot sent Gunsmoke back into the Top 10 until the 1973-74 season. Weaver died Friday from complications of cancer at his home in Ridgway, in southwestern Colorado, his publicist, Julian Myers, announced Monday. (WALTERBORO, S.C.) A judge sentenced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh to life without parole Friday, a day after he . After undergoing several surgeries, Arness was honorably discharged on January 29, 1945. James Arness, was also a well-known actor who played Dillon for five decades, in the weekly CBS television series Gunsmoke and later in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987). Buster claimed that Alex was heartbroken and devastated by the killings throughout his testimony. Despite his desire for privacy, a rocky domestic life landed him in the news more than once.Arness met future wife Virginia Chapman while both were studying at Southern California's Pasadena Playhouse. He worked menial jobs, tried radio and was collecting veterans benefits when he drifted to Hollywood. Answer to Sundays trivia: Did you know (or guess) that the first president born outside the original 13 colonies/states was one of Illinois claims to fame Abraham Lincoln, the nations 16th chief executive? How the West Was Won is an American Western television series that starred James Arness, Eva Marie Saint, Fionnula Flanagan, Bruce Boxleitner, and Richard Kiley. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The effects were longterm and had drastic ramifications on his walking. Your email address will not be published. (His parents divorced in the 1940s.). Do Not Sell My Information - CA Residents. Your email address will not be published. In 1978 he married Janet Surtees; they lived in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. In Kittys Love Affair on Oct. 22, 1973, Matt and Kitty get on a stage for St. Louis, of all places, but Matt is forced to return to Dodge on business. Two years later, an overdose that police deemed accidental killed her mother. Mr. Arness, a 6-foot-7 giant whose stoic personality was remarkably like his character's, was ideal for the part. He developed slowly, appearing in 30 movies before his mentor, John Wayne, rejected the Dillon role and recommended him instead. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Hes a gunman, Doc, Dillon says to Doc Adams. Buster is living a quiet life, away from the public with his longtime girlfriend on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Los Angeles Times. Peter, who changed his last name to Graves, went on to star in the TV series "Mission Impossible." When Weaver died in February 2006, Arness called it "a big loss for me personally" and said Weaver "provided comic relief but was also a real person doing things that were very important to the show. The goofy-foot's son, Rolf, won the 1970 World Surfing Championships. She was 56 years old at the time of her death. Of course, Arness is heavily made-up and unrecognizable as the honest do-gooder he would soon become. [1] [2] His wife died in 1978 from cancer, his mother Virginia (ne Chapman) died in 1976, and his sister Jenny Lee Aurness committed suicide on May 12, 1975. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. During the battle, he wounded his right leg and was medically evacuated from Italy to Iowa. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The adopted son of James Arness, Aurness grew up on a ranch in Southern California. Audiences had long been accustomed to western heroes who never were, having been sanitized by the trail songs of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers and the righteous gunplay of the Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy . I guess people just had to get used to it, he said. 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. Actors Richard Basehart, Ken Curtis, Michael Conrad, Christopher Lee and Jack Elam also guest starred. Buster Murdaugh is the surviving son of Alex Murdaugh and Margaret Maggie Murdaugh. They wed in 1948 and had two children, Jenny and Rolf. Stillman, the former Missouri sheriff, is now a wealthy businessman with a crippled arm and is obsessed with revenge against Luke, but is killed by Zeb in a gunfight. Legal Statement. [4] Arness stood 6-foot-7, making him one of the tallest leading men of his era. This 1956 file photo shows actors Dennis Weaver, left, as the slow-witted deputy Chester and James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon, are shown in a scene from CBS' TV classic western "Gunsmoke" in 1956. "I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. In my case, pictures like that simply want to take advantage of the Matt Dillon reputation, which is exactly what I dont want. But his real success was on television, where in addition to his cowboy roles he shared the screen with a 600-pound black bear on "Gentle Ben" and faced down a murderous big-rig in the early Steven Spielberg movie "Duel.". how many different characters did ken curtis play on gunsmoke. We had great stories, great writing, and we had fine casting and directors. There was a rumor that Wayne was offered the part, but that is not true, according to Snopes. Ironically, it aired the night before the death of actor, One final bit of Gunsmoke trivia you might find interesting: A month after Arness enjoyed his extracurricular activities, Amanda Blake got equal time. He served as a radio announce for a Minneapolis radio station until he decided to hitchhike to Hollywood to star in films. Her sister, a wealthy widow named Molly Culhane, arrives from Chicago to reunite with her only remaining family. In 1944, he was severely wounded during Operation Shinglein Anzio, Italy. The towering Gunsmoke marshal was called to the waves at San Onofre Surf Beach and enjoyed hanging ten. ", The years showed on the weathered-looking Arness, but he -- and his TV character -- wore them well. "He's big, impressive and virile," co-star Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty) once said of Arness, adding, "I've worked with him for 16 years, but I don't really know him." Mia Randall Mahomes Biography Mia Randall Mahomes is an American celebrity child well known as the half-sibling of footballer Pat Mahomes II. Make your mark in television. Jenny and Chapman died of drug overdoses in 1975 and 1977, respectively. As war comes too close to home, Zeb's sister-in-law, Kate, convinces her husband, Zeb's brother Tim, to move their two sons, Seth and Jed (renamed Luke and Josh in the remaining episodes) and two daughters (Jessie and Laura) out west. Arness met future wife Virginia Chapman while both were studying at Southern California's Pasadena Playhouse. Read More Jenny Lee Arness (James Arness' Daughter) Cause of Death, Bio, Gunsmoke . Remember Arness by commenting on our Facebook page"The camera really loved his face, and with good reason," novelist Wallace Markfield wrote in a 1975 "Gunsmoke" appreciation in The New York Times. He served as a rifleman during World War II. And although Learned faded from the scene, it wasnt the last we saw of the father-daughter duo. He led an incredible life, serving in World War II and becoming an actor without little formal training in the craft. Buster claims that when Alex informed him of what had occurred, he was about 200 miles away with her girlfriend at her home in Rock Hill, South Carolina. His odd gait and his drawling "Mis-ter Dil-lon" gave him a memorable on-screen presence - even in the shadow of the 6-foot-7 Arness, who played Marshal Dillon. Arness was born on May 26, 1913, in Minneapolis and was the older brother of Mission: Impossible actor Peter Graves. The couple had two children, Jenny and Rolf, and were divorced in 1963. The actor was 32 when friend John Wayne declined the lead role in "Gunsmoke" and recommended Arness instead. He and his girlfriend then rushed to the residence on Moselle Road. Over the years, the marshal was shot 30 times. He was born James King Aurness in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Nephew of Peter Graves. 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. Miffed, the owner of the Long Branch Saloon continues on her own, only to be saved by handsome gunslinger Will Stambridge (Richard Kiley). "The kids don't really have any part of my television life," he once remarked. Grey breaks into the Macahan house and mother Kate fatally shoots him. "Go ahead and take it, Jim," Wayne urged him. He might be too late to stop a killing. He had been reared in a family of Norwegian descent in Minnesota and became an outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. His real issue though was his height. It was Sam McCloud that Weaver called "the most satisfying role of my career." Peter, who changed his last name to Graves, went on to star in the TV series "Mission Impossible. James Comer (R-KY), the new House Oversight Committee Chairman who lamented this week that President Joe Biden's dead son was never prosecuted in a long-settled campaign financing case, has now tried to claim he said no such thing.In an appearance on former Fox Business host Lou Dobbs' podcast on Tuesday, Comer bemoaned that U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware . 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. He was 58. Why did Pale Rider take Clint Eastwood to the next level the archetypal mysterious stranger? Arness, a quiet, intensely private man who preferred the outdoor life to Hollywood's party scene, rarely gave interviews and refused to discuss the tragedies. Arness adopted Chapmans son Craig, who died in 2004. Is this curtains for Matt? Why Gunsmoke Actor James Arness Was the John Wayne of Television, Dirty Harry: Clint Eastwood created one of the most seminal and iconic characters in American film history. The actor died in his sleep at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer. He made his film debut in The Farmer's Daughter, playing Loretta Young's brother. "Go ahead and take it, Jim," Wayne urged him. - January 14, 2021 09:02 am EST. Arness, a quiet, intensely private man who preferred the outdoor life to Hollywood's party scene, rarely gave interviews and refused to discuss the tragedies. The actor was 32 when friend John Wayne declined the lead role in Gunsmoke and recommended Arness instead. TV Land, theyre on there; we were on the Westerns channel but then a few months ago they took us off. Alexs son was born Richard Alexander Buster Murdaugh. After undergoing several surgeries, Arness was honorably discharged on January 29, 1945. Try to name all the famous people on magazine covers in 1979. The first season ends with the family leaving the homestead to travel west to Oregon, which was their original intention. The big thing with the show was that we had a lot of really fine actors, and more than that, we had started out with great writing., The two gentlemen who originated the show you know, it was on the radio for two or three years before they brought it to television John Meston was the man who conceived the idea of the whole thing. James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, right, with Dennis Weaver as his sidekick, Chester, on Gunsmoke in 1956. According to the coroner's office, she was found dead in her beach home. Afraid of being typecast, Arness initially rejected it. That was a big factor., Your email address will not be published. I mean, here he was, this 6-foot-7 strapping hunk of a man, and yet for 18 years the Old Wests most eligible town marshal didnt get so much as to hold hands with or enjoy even a peck on the cheek from, Now you may be thinking that Mike is an odd name for a Western lady, but in this case it apparently was taken straight from real life. 2006 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. The Gunsmoke family was the thing that people got used to, and (they) wanted to see that in their homes on Saturday nights, you see, he told the Signal. And although he did not have the physique for the TV role, Conrad did direct two episodes. John Wayne even recommended that Arness star in Gunsmoke and introduces his friend in a prologue to the first episode of the series. The series continues when after a period of relative quiet, a bounty hunter named Captain Grey, an Army Provost Marshal pursuing Union soldiers accused of desertion, arrives at the homestead to arrest Luke. 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. Actor Jim Arness responds during an interview at his home in 2002. The sport ran in the family. Make your mark in television." I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. He was 88. Roger Schlueter: 618-239-2465, @RogerAnswer. 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. The outlaw insists on a showdown, and the marshal, always a moral touchstone, must accommodate him. The kids dont really have any part of my television life, he once remarked. Seventeen years later, Dillon finally learns the true ramifications of his one-week stand with Mike in the 1990 made-for-TV movie, Now, its up to Dillon to rescue the daughter he never knew he had and return her to her mother, played again by the Emmy-winning Learned. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. (Photo: Twitter) In 1955, Arness was cast as Matt Dillon when Gunsmoke made the transfer from radio to television. Related:Michael Avenatti Prison Sentence, Net Worth, Wife. He was 88. . She Suffered A Terrible Break-Up Before Committing Suicide; Information On Jenny's Failed Love Life They would probably be even more surprised to learn that he began his show business career as a singer in the big-band era, . Now you may be thinking that Mike is an odd name for a Western lady, but in this case it apparently was taken straight from real life. Here is a look at his life and career. The actor died in his . In addition to this, the late actor also had a great contribution to protecting the nation during World War II. Escaping on foot, he reaches Missouri, finding the abandoned horse of a dead soldier and rides the horse until a local sheriff, Martin Stillman, and his men find Luke, accusing him of horse thievery. Arness joined the war effort after high school and became a rifleman with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division. He reportedly said, I walked in the door and saw him, gave him a hug. James Arness, right, who played the part of Marshal Matt Dillon on the weekly Western "Gunsmoke," is shown with his son, Craig Arness, in 1958. Despite his desire for privacy, a rocky domestic life landed him in the news more than once. The camera really loved his face, and with good reason, novelist Wallace Markfield wrote in a 1975 Gunsmoke appreciation in The New York Times. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Who is Ava Dash? Chapman's son from her first marriage, Craig, was adopted by Arness. He was the World Surfing Champion in 1970, but the talented goofyfoot son of the hugely popular television actor James Arness (born James Aurness, who played Marshall Matt Dillon on. Unlike her first pregnancy, Kylie was open to sharing her pregnancy journey with her fans. Dennis Weaver, the American actor and television star, famous for his roles in 'McCloud' and 'Gunsmoke.' in Hollywood with his wife and two year old son, Rusty. He tried to guard them from the spotlight. Janet met James while she was working at a clothing store. The supporting cast was a snug family, stock but multilayered characters who spent much time talking: the beer-drinking philosopher, Doc (Milburn Stone); the careworn Long Branch saloonkeeper, Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake), her love unrequited; and the lame sidekick, Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver). Weaver died Friday from . In his first year at Beloit College in Wisconsin, Mr. Arness was drafted into the wartime Army as an infantryman. The remainder of the series involves Zeb and the family building their ranch in the Grand Tetons area of Wyoming. Wounded in the leg during the 1944 invasion at Anzio, Italy, Arness was hospitalized for a year and left with a slight limp. He acted alongside John Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. To a generation of television viewers, Mr. Arness and Gunsmoke embodied a new, more adult vision of the mythic Old West: a quiet, vulnerable lawman facing not stereotyped villains and clichd situations but a chaotic frontier freighted with moral judgments and occasional failure.