James Arness, Acting - KorPlix:Korean Person Archives

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James Arness
Acting

James Arness
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1923-05-26,Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Gender
Male
Biography
The star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness (formerly had been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother later became a newspaper columnist. James attended West High School in Minneapolis. Although he appeared in school plays, he had no interest in performing, and dreamed instead of going to sea. After high school, he attended one semester at Beloit College before receiving his draft notice in 1943. He entered the army and trained at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, before shipping out for North Africa. After landing at Casablanca, Arness joined the 3rd Infantry Division in time for the invasion of Anzio. Ten days after the invasion, Arness was severely wounded in the leg and foot by German machine-gun fire. His wounds, which plagued him the rest of his life, resulted in his medical discharge from the army. While recuperating in a Clinton, Iowa hospital, he was visited by his younger brother Peter (later to gain fame as actor Peter Graves), who suggested he take a radio course at the University of Minnesota. James did so, and a teacher recommended him for a job as an announcer at a Minneapolis radio station. Though seemingly headed for success in radio, he followed a boyhood friend's suggestion and went with the friend to Hollywood in hopes of getting work as film extras. He studied at the Bliss-Hayden Theatre School under actor Harry Hayden, and while appearing in a play there was spotted by agent Leon Lance. Lance got the actor a role as Loretta Young's brother in The Farmer's Daughter (1947). The director of that film, H.C. Potter, recommended that he drop the "u" from his last name and soon thereafter the actor was officially known as James Arness. Little work followed this break, He appeared in a production of "Candida", and married his leading lady, Virginia Chapman. He began to get small roles with frequency, often, due to his size, villainous characters. Most notable among these was that of the space alien in The Thing from Another World (1951). While playing a Greek warrior in a play, Arness was spotted by agent Charles K. Feldman, who represented John Wayne. Feldman introduced Arness to Wayne, who put the self-described 6' 6" actor under personal contract. Arness played several roles over the next few years for and with Wayne, whom he considered a mentor. In 1955, Wayne recommended Arness for the lead role of Matt Dillon in the TV series Gunsmoke (1955). (Contrary to urban legend, Wayne himself was never offered the role.) Arness at first declined, thinking a TV series could derail his growing film career, but Wayne argued for the show, and Arness accepted. After the cancellation of "Gunsmoke" in 1975, Arness took on another successful Western project, "How The West Was Won." A brief modern police drama, McClain's Law (1981), followed, and Arness played his mentor John Wayne's role in Red River (1988), a remake of the Wayne classic.

Filmography

The Thing from Another World

6.7

The Thing from Another World
1951-04-05

6.841

Them!
1954-06-16

Gunsmoke: To the Last Man

8

Gunsmoke: To the Last Man
1992-01-10

6.568

Hondo
1953-11-26

Stars in My Crown

6.99

Stars in My Crown
1950-05-11

6.733

Battleground
1949-11-09

The Horror Show

3.8

The Horror Show
1979-02-06

Island in the Sky

6.289

Island in the Sky
1953-09-05

6.2

The Sea Chase
1955-06-04

5

Big Jim McLain
1952-08-30

The People Against O'Hara

5.714

The People Against O'Hara
1951-09-01

6.357

Horizons West
1952-10-11

6.686

Wagon Master
1950-04-22

Carbine Williams

6.583

Carbine Williams
1952-05-01

Alias Jesse James

6.036

Alias Jesse James
1959-03-20

6.225

Iron Man
1951-09-20

Many Rivers to Cross

6.5

Many Rivers to Cross
1955-02-04

John Wayne Standing Tall

6

John Wayne Standing Tall
1989-03-01

Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge

6.5

Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
1987-09-27

Gun the Man Down

6.5

Gun the Man Down
1956-11-15

5.214

Wyoming Mail
1950-10-18

5.441

Sierra
1950-05-26

Two Lost Worlds

4.231

Two Lost Worlds
1951-01-05

The Man from Texas

8

The Man from Texas
1948-03-06

5.667

Roses Are Red
1947-11-10

Gunsmoke: The Last Apache

6.682

Gunsmoke: The Last Apache
1990-03-17

Flame of the Islands

4.143

Flame of the Islands
1955-12-04

The Girl in White

7.083

The Girl in White
1952-05-23

6.7

Hellgate
1952-09-04

5.833

Her Twelve Men
1954-08-11

The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory

6.462

The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory
1987-11-11

5.7

The Lone Hand
1953-05-20

6

Cavalry Scout
1951-05-13

The First Traveling Saleslady

5.6

The First Traveling Saleslady
1956-08-01

The Veils of Bagdad

6.75

The Veils of Bagdad
1953-10-06

Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice

6

Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice
1994-02-10

The Farmer's Daughter

7.128

The Farmer's Daughter
1947-03-26

6.375

Red River
1988-04-10

Gunsmoke: The Long Ride

5.4

Gunsmoke: The Long Ride
1993-05-08

6.714

The Macahans
1976-01-19

In a Lonely Place

7.618

In a Lonely Place
1950-05-17

The Western: A Lost TV Special

0

The Western: A Lost TV Special
1958-06-08

7

Why Vietnam?
1965-01-01

6.679

Gunsmoke
1955-09-10

How the West Was Won

6.955

How the West Was Won
1977-02-06

The Ed Sullivan Show

6.848

The Ed Sullivan Show
1948-06-20

7.667

McClain's Law
1981-11-20

Lux Video Theatre

6.714

Lux Video Theatre
1950-10-02

Front Row Center

6.5

Front Row Center
1945-03-25

The Johnny Carson Show

7.8

The Johnny Carson Show
1955-06-30

The Red Skelton Show

7.421

The Red Skelton Show
1951-09-30