James Arness

James Arness was a prominent American actor who was most known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon in the TV series Gunsmoke for 20 years. He was a three-time Primetime Emmy candidate. On June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, Arness died of natural causes in his Brentwood home in Los Angeles, California.

At the time of his death, James Arness was worth $8 million

James Arness had an estimated net worth of $8 million at the time of his death. His money came from his illustrious career as an actor and former military man. He did, in fact, make a lot of money from his role in the TV show Gunsmoke. According to one source, he was paid roughly $20,000 every episode. According to the same website, The Thing From Another World star made barely $1,200 per episode in the beginning.

He also appeared in The Farmer’s Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and more films. In 1960, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For his dedication and hard effort, Arness received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Behind the Scenes with James Arness

James Arness, whose real name was James King Airness, was born on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father, Rolf Cirkler Aurness, and mother, Ruth Duesler, had him as the eldest son. With his brother Peter Graves, he grew up in his hometown. According to IMDb, Arness stood 6′ 7″ tall and weighed 235 pounds, according to Time magazine (March 30, 1959). He was regarded as Hollywood’s tallest leading man during his time. James graduated from Minneapolis Washburn High School with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Beloit College awarded him his Alma Master’s degree.