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James Arness Biography (1923-)

Real name, James Aurness; born May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, MN; son of RolfC. and Ruth (Duesler) Arness; married Virginia Chapman, February 12, 1948 (divorced, 1960); married Janet Surtees, 1978; children: (first marriage) Craig,Jenny Lee, Rolf; brother of Peter Graves (an actor). Addresses: Home--Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, CA. Contact--P.O. Box 49599, Los Angeles, CA90049.

Nationality

American

Birth Details

May 26, 1923

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke (also known as Marshall Dillon), CBS, 1955- 75.
• Zeb Macahan, How the West Was Won, ABC, 1978-79.
• Detective Jim McClain, McClain's Law, NBC, 1981-82.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Miniseries
• Zeb Macahan, How the West Was Won, ABC, 1977.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Zeb Macahan, The Macahans, ABC, 1976.
• Jim Bowie, The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory, NBC, 1987.
• Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, CBS, 1987.
• Tom Dunson, Red River, CBS, 1988.
• Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke: The Last Apache, CBS, 1990.
• Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke: To the Last Man, CBS, 1992.
• Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke: The Long Ride, CBS, 1993.
• Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice, CBS, 1994.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• Himself, The 11th Annual Emmy Awards, 1960.
• Himself, A Salute to Television's 25th Anniversary, 1972.
• Host, John Wayne Standing Tall, 1989.
• Credits; Television Work; Executive Producer
• Gunsmoke: The Long Ride, CBS, 1993.
• Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice, CBS, 1994.
• Credits; Film Appearances
• (As James Aurness) Peter Holstrom, Farmer's Daughter, RKO Radio Pictures,1947.
• Ray, Roses Are Red, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1947.
• Garby, Battleground, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1948.
• The Man from Texas, Eagle-Lion, 1948.
• Russell, Wyoming Mail, Universal, 1950.
• Kirk Hamilton, Two Lost Worlds, Eagle-Lion, 1950.
• Little Sam, Sierra, Universal, 1950.
• Floyd Clegg, Wagon Master (also known as Wagonmaster), RKO Radio Pictures, 1950.
• Double Crossbones, Universal, 1950.
• Stars in My Crown, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1950.
• Alex Malik, Iron Man, Universal, 1951.
• Johnny O'Hara, The People Against O'Hara, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1951.
• The Thing, The Thing from Another World (also known as The Thing), RKO Radio Pictures, 1951.
• Belle le Grand, Republic, 1951.
• Barth, The Cavalry Scout, Monogram, 1951.
• Mal Baxter, Big Jim McClain (also known as Jim McClain), Warner Bros., 1952.
• Tiny McGilligan, Horizons West, Universal, 1952.
• George Redfield, Hellgate, Lippert, 1952.
• Matt, The Girl in White (also known as So Bright the Flame), Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952.
• Leon Williams, Carbine Williams, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952.
• Ride the Man Down, Republic, 1952.
• Gus Varden, Lone Hand, Universal, 1953.
• Mutant crouching by Raygunner, Invaders from Mars, Twentieth Century-Fox,1953.
• McMullen, Island in the Sky, Warner Bros., 1953.
• Lennie, Hondo, Warner Bros., 1953.
• Targut, The Veils of Bagdad, Universal, 1953.
• Robert Graham, Them!, Warner Bros., 1954.
• Ralph Munsey, Her Twelve Men, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1954.
• Esau Hamilton, Many Rivers to Cross, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1955.
• Schlieter, The Sea Chase, Warner Bros., 1955.
• Joel Kingdom, The First Traveling Saleslady, RKO Radio Pictures, 1956.
• Rem Anderson, Gun the Man Down (also known as Arizona Mission), United Artists, 1956.
• Kelly Rand, Flame of the Islands, Republic, 1958.
• Matt Dillon, Alias Jesse James, United Artists, 1959.

Further Reference

Books:

• Celebrity Register, 1990, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1990.