RIP Matt Dillon - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

IowaZR-1 · 06-04-2011

James Arness dies at age 88
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?ne...&ocid=ansent11

Z Factor · 06-05-2011

James Arness, 'Gunsmoke's' Marshall Matt Dillon, Dies at 88

James Arness, the beloved 6-foot-7 Marshal Matt Dillon of TV?s iconic Western drama ?Gunsmoke? (1955 to 1975) died Friday, June 3, 2011, at the age of 88.
Born James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Arness graduated from West High School in June 1942. He was the older brother of actor Peter Graves (1926-2010).
Arness worked in a number of menial jobs such as delivery, loading and unloading railway boxes, and logging in Idaho in pre-WWII years. He was called for the Army and began military service in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in March 1943, serving as a rifleman with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division. He was severely wounded during Operation Shingle, at Anzio, Italy, and, after several surgeries, was honorably discharged in 1945.
James Arness was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, The European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
After returning to civilian life, he began his career as a radio announcer in Minnesota in 1945 and soon appeared in his first film with Loretta Young in The Farmer?s Daughter (1947).
In 1955 he became Marshal Matt Dillon on the TV western drama, ?Gunsmoke?-- a role reportedly turned down by John Wayne. The rest, as they say, is history. James Arness was a hero in real life and served as a role model and truly bigger-than-life hero as the gentle, polite and morally unshakable Marshal Matt Dillon for two decades. He is described by msnbc.com as creating, ??an indelible portrait of a quiet, heroic man with an unbending dedication to justice and the town he protected.?
James Arness is said to have disdained publicity and banned reporters from the Gunsmoke set. He has been described as a shy and sensitive man who enjoyed poetry, sailboat racing, and surfing.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Famee, and in 1981 he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museumm in Oklahoma City., On the 50th anniversary of television in 1989, People Magazinee chose the top 25 television stars of all time, and Arness was No. 6. He was also nominated for several Emmyy award.
James Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960; and to Janet Surtees from 1978 until his death. He fathered two sons, Rolf and Craig (who died in 2004). His daughter Jenny Lee died in 1975. Rolf Aurness became World Surfing Champion in 1970.
Arness is reported to have died of natural causes at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles, California.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/james...lon-dies-at-88

RIP

Jagdpanzer · 06-06-2011

I grew up in Western Kansas and remember the time when Jim and the rest of the Gunsmoke cast came to Dodge City for the naming of "Gunsmoke Street". I was a young boy then and Eisenhower was still president.
Of all my boyhood heroes Marshall Dillon was at the top. Guess that's the reason we named our first born son Matthew.

Scrrem · 06-06-2011

I too have fond memories of Matt Dillon and Gunsmoke. I am lucky enough to have an autographed photo from James Arness, it always makes me smile.
Rich

06-04-2011	#1
IowaZR-1 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa aka "one big cornfield" Posts: 341	RIP Matt Dillon James Arness dies at age 88 http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?ne...&ocid=ansent11

06-05-2011	#2
Z Factor Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: S. Florida Posts: 2,667	Re: RIP Matt Dillon James Arness, 'Gunsmoke's' Marshall Matt Dillon, Dies at 88 James Arness, the beloved 6-foot-7 Marshal Matt Dillon of TV?s iconic Western drama ?Gunsmoke? (1955 to 1975) died Friday, June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. Born James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Arness graduated from West High School in June 1942. He was the older brother of actor Peter Graves (1926-2010). Arness worked in a number of menial jobs such as delivery, loading and unloading railway boxes, and logging in Idaho in pre-WWII years. He was called for the Army and began military service in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in March 1943, serving as a rifleman with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division. He was severely wounded during Operation Shingle, at Anzio, Italy, and, after several surgeries, was honorably discharged in 1945. James Arness was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, The European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After returning to civilian life, he began his career as a radio announcer in Minnesota in 1945 and soon appeared in his first film with Loretta Young in The Farmer?s Daughter (1947). In 1955 he became Marshal Matt Dillon on the TV western drama, ?Gunsmoke?-- a role reportedly turned down by John Wayne. The rest, as they say, is history. James Arness was a hero in real life and served as a role model and truly bigger-than-life hero as the gentle, polite and morally unshakable Marshal Matt Dillon for two decades. He is described by msnbc.com as creating, ??an indelible portrait of a quiet, heroic man with an unbending dedication to justice and the town he protected.? James Arness is said to have disdained publicity and banned reporters from the Gunsmoke set. He has been described as a shy and sensitive man who enjoyed poetry, sailboat racing, and surfing. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Famee, and in 1981 he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museumm in Oklahoma City., On the 50th anniversary of television in 1989, People Magazinee chose the top 25 television stars of all time, and Arness was No. 6. He was also nominated for several Emmyy award. James Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960; and to Janet Surtees from 1978 until his death. He fathered two sons, Rolf and Craig (who died in 2004). His daughter Jenny Lee died in 1975. Rolf Aurness became World Surfing Champion in 1970. Arness is reported to have died of natural causes at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles, California. http://www.opposingviews.com/i/james...lon-dies-at-88 RIP __________________ --- It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt - April 23, 1910

06-06-2011	#3
Jagdpanzer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,649	Re: RIP Matt Dillon I grew up in Western Kansas and remember the time when Jim and the rest of the Gunsmoke cast came to Dodge City for the naming of "Gunsmoke Street". I was a young boy then and Eisenhower was still president. Of all my boyhood heroes Marshall Dillon was at the top. Guess that's the reason we named our first born son Matthew. __________________ Phil Wasinger 1994 Torch Red ZR-1 WAZOO Member George Braml Intake

06-06-2011	#4
Scrrem Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 1,469	Re: RIP Matt Dillon I too have fond memories of Matt Dillon and Gunsmoke. I am lucky enough to have an autographed photo from James Arness, it always makes me smile. Rich __________________ 1990 Bright Red Coupe #608 380 Stroker, Ported Heads/Intake/Housings/TB Haibeck Secondary Delete Chip / Pete's Cams George Braml Intake / FIC Injectors Coated SW Headers / Corsa Bill Boudreau B/B ZF6 / Viper 4.10 gears Ron Davis Radiator Pioneer AVIC-Z140BH NAV Fikse FM5's 285 / 335 / C6 Brakes WAZOO Member