'Gunsmoke' star James Arness dead at age 88

[Jello Biafra]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor James Arness, who personified the tall, rugged westerner as the star of "Gunsmoke," one of U.S. television's longest-running series, died on Friday at age 88.

According to a posting on his official website, Arness, a native of Minneapolis, died of natural causes.

He was best known for his 20 years on TV playing Matt Dillon, the U.S. marshal in the dusty wild-west town of Dodge City, Kansas, a role for which he was recommended by film star John Wayne.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

http://www.fox40.com/entertainment/sns-rt-us-jamesarnesstre7525tj-20110603,0,6176541.story

[hlthe2b]

1. Wow... He was really something... RIP, Mr. Arness

While the era of the western has been over for some time, your impact exceeded almost any other in that genre. My young childhood was filled with Gunsmoke, Bonanza and others, but Gunsmoke was in a class of its own.

[safeinOhio]

3. Dad loved that show.

He passed away 8 years ago at the age of 90. When I read the headline, Dad was the first thing I thought of.

[BuelahWitch]

14. My Grandpa did too

:hug:

[quinnox]

2. a little before my time

but I did see one or two reruns of Gunsmoke and he was good in it. Didn't know he had been still around to be honest, he lived a long life.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. He was my father's all time favorite.

Dillon, Festus, Miss Kitty....

[Greybnk48]

9. Don't forget Chester!

[Raine]

30. Dennis Weaver was a GREAT guy, an early environmentalist

a real progressive he died way too soon.

[hlthe2b]

13. I liked the interplay between Doc Adams and Festus

For a very serious drama, with quite its share of violence, it had its light moments too. RIP all.

[Raine]

31. I loved Festus and Doc together too and Ken Curtis who played Festus was a very

good singer, sang with Sons of the Pioneers.

[Skidmore]

5. They don't make actors or cowboys, for that matter, the way they

they made James Arness. He strode across our television screen every week. Matt Dillon always caught the bad guy, never swore or got drunk, was a loyal friend and good boss to Festus, and never took advantage of Miss Kitty. Mr. Arness played his role earnestly and with integrity. He lived his life without being embroiled in scandal. Today's crop of actors could learn much from him.

Rest in peace.

[meegbear]

6. And here's your Gunsmoke factoid ...

During the 1966-1967 season, Gilligan's Island was broadcast on Monday nights at 7:30 P.M. (E.S.T.) Even though the sitcom's ratings had fallen out of the top thirty programs, by the spring of 1967, the series was still doing very well and more than holding its own against its chief competitor, The Monkees, which aired at the same time on NBC-TV. Therefore, CBS assured Sherwood Schwartz that Gilligan's Island would definitely be picked up for a fourth year. However, under pressure from network president William S. Paley and his wife Babe, as well as many network affiliates and longtime fans of Gunsmoke (which had been airing late on Saturday nights), to reverse its threatened cancellation, CBS rescheduled the Western to an earlier time slot on Monday evenings at 7:30 P.M. As a result, Gilligan's Island was unceremoniously canceled at practically the last minute even though the cast members were all on vacation. Some of the cast had bought houses based on Sherwood Schwartz's verbal confirmation that the series would be renewed for a fourth season.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilligan%27s_Island#Cancellation

Yes, Gilligan's Island was cancelled because of Gunsmoke.

[Greybnk48]

7. Every week for years, my dad and I squared off for the

quick draw duel in the middle of main street Dodge City, which is how the show always began. Then we'd argue about who won!! I used to dream about Matt Dillon when I was a kid. He was the quintessential voice of reason and bravery (which don't always go together).

[Urban Prairie]

8. Had a "Gunsmoke" themed metal lunchbox w/thermos bottle

as a child in grade school during the early-mid 60s. It was one of my favorite TV westerns, and like another TV western star who passed away, Chuck Connors, Mr. Arness was a very tall man, and was about 2" taller than me @ 6' 7" if I remember correctly.

RIP "Marshall Matt Dillon"

[Greybnk48]

10. His brother, Peter Graves, was star of Mission Impossible

the same time Gunsmoke was running. Edit to add: He was asked to play the monster in the movie The Thing (I think that's the name, it took place in the Arctic) because he was so tall.

I also seem to remember that he had to leave Gunsmoke because of a knee injury that was actually causing a limp and he could barely ride a horse any more.

[Urban Prairie]

15. Interesting that he had an IRL knee injury that caused him to limp

Didn't "Festus" (Ken Curtis) walk with somewhat of a limp on the TV show? It was so long ago that I last watched an episode, but I seem to remember that.

[Sinistrous]

20. That was Dillon's first deputy, Chester,

played by Dennis Weaver.

[Greybnk48]

26. Chester fake limped on the show (Dennis Weaver)

but James Arness had such a bad knee he had trouble hiding his real limp toward the end of the series.

[Sinistrous]

28. Chester was faking it?:

I think that factoid rates a resounding "NO DUH!"

[joeybee12]

11. RIP Mr. Arness...knr

[BlueStater]

12. Him and Jack Kevorkian were both born on May 26.

I just found that kind of interesting.

[Eddie Haskell]

16. I still watch.

The list of future stars that had bit parts is as long as your arm.

[damntexdem]

17. I guess he decided it was time to get out of Dodge.

But what will become of Dodge City now?

(And I can't claim just parents as loving the show -- I myself used to like it.)

[B Calm]

18. William Conrad was the original Matt Dillion

[gort]

32. and the best, too!

I love listening to the Gunsmoke radio dramas. The shows were well written and very adult for the time. Conrad's Marshall Dillon was very dark compared to Arness's.

[B Calm]

33. and who would have thought that Floyd the Barber on Andy Griffith

(Howard McNear)was the original Doc Adams on OTR Gunsmoke. Gunsmoke was the best old time radio show ever!!

[Liberal In Texas]

19. RIP - I enjoyed "Gunsmoke" as a kid, and also loved "The Thing".

Great SF movie for it's time.

[blogslut]

21. Rest in Peace, sir

You were a part of my youth.

[Rebubula]

22. DAMN!!!

I LOVE that show - oddly enough, I did not start watching it until about 3 years ago.

Sleep well, Mr. Arness...now you can get back to hanging out with Festus and the rest of the gang...

[elocs]

23. I first remember watching Gunsmoke when I was just 3 back in 1955.

This past year I watched the first 11 seasons on Netflix streaming. Another piece of my childhood gone.

James Arness was Matt Dillon. R.I.P.

[asjr]

24. I think one reason those of us old enough

to remember Gunsmoke is because at the time it was just the best thing on television. It could be corny at times, but it was good corn. There have been many good shows on television over the years. There aren't that many these days that interest me. I saw a new program one night this week on TNT that looked like it might be okay, but turned my stomach. Franklin & Nash is the name and if that is what we have to look forward to I may as well cancel my cable. I found it below juvenile.

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. I agree with you.

I did not "watch" it often as a kid, but my parents always did. It was THE show for them, and for my grandparents at their house.
While the grownups sat and watched tv, I always was in my room, reading, as a matter of preference.
So, strangely, I know a lot of tv shows in 50's that I rarely sat down and watched.
I think it was because there was "parents" tv time and "kids" tv time. Us kids watched Sat. morning shows.


Walter Cronkite was the other must see tv show.

[mysuzuki2]

27. My mother dated both him and his brother Peter Graves while in.

high school. If she had married either one of them I might have been tall. Instead she married my dad who was 5' 7". Oh well.

[Raine]

29. R-I-P Marshall Matt Dillon ... I always loved Gunsmoke

still watch the repeats whenever I come across them. :-(

[man4allcats]

34. I just learned of this. So sad to hear it.

Gunsmoke is one of my all time favorite shows. I still watch the syndicated reruns at every opportunity. James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon was truly larger than life in every way, a true hero's hero. RIP, Marshal Dillon. You were the best of the best.

[theophilus]

35. We watched Gunsmoke regularly when I was a kid. I'll always

remember him from "Them", too. He put the slap down on those giant atomic ants. We need some real life heroes right about now.

[lunatica]

36. I had an aunt that would dress up to watch Gunsmoke

She would do her hair up and put on high heels and lipstick and the whole enchilada.