JAMES ARNESS
Name: James Aurness
Born: 26 May 1923 Minneapolis, Minnesota
James Arness (born as James Aurness on May 26, 1923, Minneapolis, Minnesota) is
an actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke for 20 years.
Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in
five separate decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in the decade of
the 1980s (1987) Return to Dodge, and four more made-for-TV Gunsmoke movies in
the 1990s.
Arness's parents were Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler, descendants of
German and Norwegian immigrants. Arness is the older brother of actor Peter
Graves. He was the tallest actor ever to play a lead role, standing 6'7".
Name: James Aurness
Born: 26 May 1923 Minneapolis, Minnesota
James Arness (born as James Aurness on May 26, 1923, Minneapolis, Minnesota) is
an actor best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke for 20 years.
Arness has the distinction of having played the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in
five separate decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in the decade of
the 1980s (1987) Return to Dodge, and four more made-for-TV Gunsmoke movies in
the 1990s.
Arness's parents were Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler, descendants of
German and Norwegian immigrants. Arness is the older brother of actor Peter
Graves. He was the tallest actor ever to play a lead role, standing 6'7".