How old was james arness when he started gunsmoke

Gunsmoke: To the Last Man: Directed by Jerry Jameson. With James Arness, Pat Hingle, Amy Stoch, Matt Mulhern. Retired Marshal Matt Dillon tracks Arizona rustlers and lands in the middle of the 1880s Pleasant Valley War.

How old was james arness when he started gunsmoke. Aug 22, 2016 · Premiering on CBS in September 1955 and completing its network run September 1975, Gunsmoke is the longest running dramatic non-soap series in the history of US television. Two of its stars, James Arness and Milburn Stone, remained all 20 seasons, with Amanda Blake a close second, departing after 19 years. The series started out as […]

The third of five "Gunsmoke" movies, the first of which aired in 1987, more than a dozen years after the show concluded its 20-year run on TV (1955 to 1975). This film continues a storyline started in the second, when Matt discovered he fathered a daughter named Beth during a brief romance with ranchwoman Mike Yardner.

UPDATE 1/24/2024. Alright, let’s get the Hell into Dodge! Mount your horses and get ready for a wild ride, because today we’re revisiting Gunsmoke, the sweeping western drama that’s been called America’s own Iliad and The Odyssey. For two decades, from 1955 to 1975, Gunsmoke, which started out as a radio show, was appointment television ...James Arness starred in 'Gunsmoke' for 20 years ... he started to date, which quickly became the news of the town. ... Spend Saturday in the Old West!James Arness earned himself $1,200 per episode for playing Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke during its early years. Later, after the television show earned awards and gained more popularity, he negotiated his contract and …Gunsmoke: To the Last Man: Directed by Jerry Jameson. With James Arness, Pat Hingle, Amy Stoch, Matt Mulhern. Retired Marshal Matt Dillon tracks Arizona rustlers and lands in the middle of the 1880s Pleasant Valley War.Did you know that behind the scenes of one of TV's longest-running shows, two iconic actors had a real-life conflict? Or that this discord almost broke apart...If you’re looking for a reliable plumbing service, look no further than ARS Rescue Rooter. With over 70 years of experience in the plumbing industry, they offer a wide range of ser...Portrayed the role of Marshall Dillon on TV's Gunsmoke for twenty years, a role that John Wayne declined and recommended for Arness according to urban legend. Before Fame. He spent time as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler while attending high school. Trivia. He was featured on the television show, Gunsmoke. Family LifeApril 13, 2023. April 13, 2023. Spread the love. Janet Surtees (aka Janet Surtees Arness) is the widow of the late Hollywood icon James Arness. Her late hubby gained tremendous popularity following his enduring role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the cult-hit CBS TV series Gunsmoke. The couple had started dating a year before the end of the drama ...

After James Arness left Gunsmoke in 1975 he went on to later do a series called "How The West Was Won" then an aging Arness (64 years old when he did the first movie) returned to the iconic role that made him famous. In this the fourth movie of five, Arness was around 70 years old. He was clearly too old for the part, but pulled it off nicely ...Soon after booking small parts as an actor, he dropped the "u" in his name and became "James Arness" for the rest of his career. How The Duke Helped James Arness Book 'Gunsmoke' The show that would make him a household name, "Gunsmoke," began as a radio show in 1952, and three years later, it transitioned to television in 1955.Browse shows and movies that feature James Arness including The Thing From Another World, Hondo, and more. ... as evidenced by programs like "The Lone Ranger" (ABC, 1949-1957). But "Gunsmoke" was decidedly adult and dramatic in tone; the violence, though tame by modern standards, was real, and the stories revolved more around the day-to-day ...Western star James Arness passes at 88. Sad news to report: TV Legend James Arness passed away today at the age of 88. He was best known for his longtime portrayal of Marshal Matt Dillon on the classic Western series Gunsmoke and later on How the West Was Won. The publicity-shy star was interviewed by the Archive of American Television in 2002.Buck Taylor. Actor: Cowboys & Aliens. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum "Hall of Great Western Performers" Inductee, and Multi-Western Heritage Award Winner, most recently for roles in the critically acclaimed movie Hell or High Water (2016) (Outstanding Theatrical, 2017), The Road to Valhalla (2013) (Outstanding Documentary, 2015) and Truce (2005) (Outstanding Theatrical, 2007), Buck ...Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston.It centered on Dodge City, Kansas in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.. The radio series ran from 1952 to 1961."Aunt Thede" was the 13th episode of Season 10 of Gunsmoke, also the 354th overall episode of the series. Directed by Sutton Roley, the episode, which was written by Kathleen Hite, was originally broadcast on CBS-TV on December 19, 1964. Festus' aunt Thede and a young woman both seek to get married. Aunt Theodore "Thede" Haggan (Jeanette Nolan), kinfolk of Festus, comes to Dodge looking for a ...

The quiet hero of Gunsmoke was a fitting archetype for the Eisenhower era when the US kept the law without resort to force. Wed 8 Jun 2011 17.00 EDT. J ames Arness, the 6'7" giant who, from 1955 ...It takes a special kind of lawman to carry on for 20 years in the Wild West of TV."Gunsmoke" Buffalo Hunter (TV Episode 1959) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. ... James Arness ... Matt Dillon: Dennis Weaver ... Chester: Milburn Stone ... James Lister Lynn Stalmaster Set Decoration by . Raymond Boltz Jr. Makeup Department .Full episodes of “Gunsmoke” are available for free on the Full Episodes page of TVLand.com, as of June 2015. The website offers a small selection of episodes that varies from week ...Gunsmoke: Created by Charles Marquis Warren, Clyde Ware. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis. Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in rough-and-tumble Dodge City.

Disney duals.

Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge is a 1987 American Western television film based on the 20-year (1955–1975) series Gunsmoke starring James Arness.Subsequent TV movies are Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990), Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (1992), Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993), and Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (1994), none of which are set …Loved James Arness in Gunsmoke from start to finish. He was an excellent actor who would keep viewer interest on a weekly basis. ... I am 86 years old & have watched James Arness since the ...Aug. 17, 1989 12 AM PT. From Staff and Wire Reports. Actress Amanda Blake, the earthy Miss Kitty who ran the Longbranch Saloon on the long-running television series "Gunsmoke," died of oral ...Matt Dillon, the series protagonist, is famously portrayed by James Arness. The U.S Marshal works hard to keep criminals at bay on the streets of small-town Kansas in the 1870s. The Leading Man / Getty Images Photo by CBS Photo Archive. The fictional city of Dodge was full of shenanigans and interesting characters.James Arness was 32 years old when Gunsmoke started in 1955. He was not the first choice for the role of Marshal Matt Dillon, but he impressed the producers with his height (he was 6’7″) and his commanding presence. Arness played the role of Dillon for the entire 20-year run of the show, making him one of the longest-running actors to play ...

Matt Dillon is a fictional character featured on both the radio and television versions of Gunsmoke.He is the U.S. Marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, who works to preserve law and order in the western frontier of the 1870s.The character was created by writer John Meston.The character evolved considerably during nine years on CBS Radio and twenty years on CBS Television (Columbia Broadcasting System).'Gunsmoke remains one of the longest-running television series in history and was popular well before Reynolds was made part of the cast by following Marshal Dillon (James Arness) as he attempts to keep lawlessness from sweeping over Kansas. It started in 1955 and the actor joined the cast in 1962 playing Quint Asper, a half-Comanche blacksmith ...James Arness rode numerous horses over the 20 years of Gunsmoke, but he had a horse, Old Faithful Buck, nicknamed "Buck" a big buckskin that Arness liked so much he took him to his own personal ...If you’re looking for a rental property in Springdale, AR, consider a duplex. Duplexes offer many advantages over other types of rental properties. Here are some of the benefits of...James Arness, who burnished the legend of America’s epic West as Marshal Matt Dillon, the laconic peacemaker of Dodge City on “Gunsmoke,” one of the longest-running dramatic series in television history, died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88. In this 1967 file photo originally released by CBS, actor James Arness, …21 May 2010 ... James Arness on the origin of "Gunsmoke" - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews ... He was a man' s man. He loved the people ... Paramount Plus • S1 E2&nb...Curtis joined Gunsmoke after Chester Goode actor Dennis Weaver left the show. In an interview with the Daily Advertiser back in 1971, Curtis said that for a long time, he fretted about Festus really replacing Chester. "He does things on his own, while Chester was always whining along behind Matt," Curtis joked.A television movie sequel based on the long-running CBS series, "Gunsmoke." Matt Dillon attempts to rescue his daughter, whom he has never seen, from her Apache captors. Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990) - Turner Classic MoviesStone would later come forward with a story about how he initially "hated" lead star James Arness, but that he would later "love" the man after a rather blunt incident. 'Gunsmoke ...Gunsmoke was set in Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1890s and began as a radio program that CBS aired from 1952 to 1961.Like the radio version, the television series centred on the character of Matt Dillon (played by James Arness), a U.S. marshal charged with maintaining law and order in an American frontier town. The supporting characters …One of the most successful dramatic shows in television history was "Gunsmoke." The Western, which aired on CBS from 1955 to 1975, is one of the longest-running live action shows to air in ...

Gunsmoke began as a radio series in 1952. When the decision was made to bring these nail-biting tales to television, a search began to find Dodge City its defender. Fortunately, it was as if a heavenly spotlight shined down on then-32-year-old James Arness.

James Arness delivered an outstanding performance in 635 episodes of the legendary Western drama series 'Gunsmoke' as "Marshal Matt Dillon."The actor, also known for 'How the West Was Won', had a ...0.1 James Arness was a renowned actor from the United States. James Arness was best known for playing the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS TV series, “Gunsmoke” for over 20 years. 1 Early Life and Childhood; 2 Education; 3 Death; 4 James Arness – Net Worth 2024; 5 Relationship Status; 6 Professional Life and Career; 7 James Arness ...Gunsmoke actor James Arness once opened up about the insane success of his role as Marshall Matt Dillon on the western. "You never know in this business," said Arness in a 2001 interview. "There's a lot of luck, providence, mixed into every successful career." ... Then I started Gunsmoke and the whole picture changed. ...Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) Mark Franklin May 18, 2020 1980s. James Arness plays retired marshal Matt Dillon, who is on his way to trade furs he's collected when an old enemy shows up. He disarms the man and plans to take him to Dodge City. Instead, they're ambushed by thieves intent on stealing Matt's furs and rifles.James Arness in 1990s Gunsmoke TV movie (Image: GETTY) Arness had been starring for five years in Gunsmoke and hadn't made a movie since the Wayne-produced Gun the Man Down in 1956.'Gunsmoke' actor James Arness and Oscar-winning Western movie star John Wayne demonstrated why they had similar paths, but incredibly differing legacies. by Jeff Nelson Published on February 21, 2023Airing from 1955-1975 and standing as America's longest-running prime-time live-action series for 20 years (until 1975, for which Festus Haggen played by Ken Curtis came into being), Gunsmoke showcased many memorable characters including Marshal Matt Dillon played by James Arness's deputy Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), then Festus Haggen ...Thursday's Child: Directed by Joseph H. Lewis. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis. Kitty welcomes her mentor to town, but her friend is burdened by a secret: she's here to deliver the child of her outlaw son, a man willing to take his own mother hostage.

Natalie wiger.

Padden parkway accident.

Portrayed the role of Marshall Dillon on TV's Gunsmoke for twenty years, a role that John Wayne declined and recommended for Arness according to urban legend. Before Fame. He spent time as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler while attending high school. Trivia. He was featured on the television show, Gunsmoke. Family LifeRead More About James Arness Second Wife, Janet Surtees Arness, Children, Husband James Arness Death & Is Janet Surtees Arness Still Alive ... She initially thought of meeting him for the sake of telling her son about it as he was a huge Gunsmoke ... Craig Arness started the stock photography agency Westlight and worked for National Geographic ..."The Glory and the Mud" was the 14th episode of Season 9 of Gunsmoke, also the 319th overall episode of the series. Directed by Jerry Hopper, the episode, which was written by Gwen Bagni, was originally broadcast on CBS-TV on January 4, 1964. A young man tries to make a name for himself as a fast draw when Matt turns him down as deputy. A retired lawman and showman wants only to settle down ...Roger Ewing was born January 12, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. His acting career entailed several guest shots on TV shows, sitcoms and movies but he is best known for his role of a part-time deputy marshal and handy man, Clayton Thaddeus "Thad" Greenwood in thirty-six episodes (October 2, 1965 - September 25, 1967) of the popular TV western series, Gunsmoke, starring James Arness as Dodge ...Seated: Quint Asper ( Burt Reynolds ). "Gunsmoke", starring James Arness as Matt Dillon! A long, long-running Western series about the adventures of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon and the citizenry of Dodge City, Kansas. It started as a radio series, then moved to CBS television (with a completely different cast) in 1955.James Arness, who burnished the legend of America’s epic West as Marshal Matt Dillon, the laconic peacemaker of Dodge City on “Gunsmoke,” one of the longest-running dramatic series in television history, died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88. In this 1967 file photo originally released by CBS, actor James Arness, …Here are few things you should know about the show Gunsmoke: James Arness was in all 635 episodes: James Arness played the role of Dillon in Gunsmoke, the only character to appear in all 635 episodes of the television series. Milburn Stone, who played Doc Adams, performed almost in all episodes, except he missed six because of a …FAQ: How old was James Arness when he first started Gunsmoke? The actor was 32 when friend John Wayne declined the lead role in “Gunsmoke” and recommended Arness instead. Afraid of being typecast, Arness … ….

Add one to start the conversation. More like this. More like this. Tops. 1950s. Fighter Jets. Air Force. ... CBS television actor James Arness was invited by U.S. Air Force Recruiting to take a ride in a F-102A Consolidated-Vultee fighter jet. ... Ken Curtis and Elizabeth MacRae in Gunsmoke (1955) Margaret Mason. Country. Portraits. Young Buck ...AP. (CBS) James Arness, the tall, iconic actor best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running television series "Gunsmoke," has died. He was 88. The Los Angeles Times reports the ...James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the series Gunsmoke. He has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made ...Buy Gunsmoke: To the Last Man on Fandango at Home. As usual, trouble finds retired U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness). In this case, it all starts when he is called upon to retrieve some ...21 May 2010 ... James Arness on the origin of "Gunsmoke" - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews ... He was a man' s man. He loved the people ... Paramount Plus • S1 E2&nb...Taylor kind of started this. He gets the best actors, writers, and directors. ... He was about 18 or 19 years old. He said he never forgot about me.” ... His “Gunsmoke” co-star James Arness ...Gunsmoke. Intro. Home. Gunsmoke. Letters From Janet. Write to Janet. Biography. Product. SPECIAL ITEMS SELECTED BY MRS. JAMES ARNESS ... Watch the eBay store as new 65 th items will be added throughout the month of September. Badge: Designed by Mrs. James Arness . Lithograph: By Buck Taylor . Photo Key Chains: 4 different photos to choose from ...According to Reuters, Arness died on June 3, 2011, of natural causes at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, California. His business manager, Ginny Fazer, said he was in relatively good health but had ...Actor James Arness once explained the reason behind why he intentionally cut his lines down on 'Gunsmoke' to fool the audience. by Jeff Nelson. Published on December 21, 2022. 2 min read. Gunsmoke ...Synopsis. Gunsmoke is set in and around Dodge City, Kansas, in the post-Civil War era and centers on United States Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he enforces law and order in the city.In its original format, the series also focuses on Dillon's friendship with three other citizens of Dodge City: Doctor Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), the town's … How old was james arness when he started gunsmoke, Bank Baby: Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Burt Reynolds. Bert Clum uses his clan to get what he wants. They are camped outside of Dodge. When they meet a small wagon train, he hatches a plot to rob the local bank. But he needs to snatch a baby to hide behind first., Jenny: Directed by Robert Totten. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis. A strict judge interferes when Newly allows an outlaw to make arrangements for his 10-year-old daughter, and to surrender afterwards., A rare 1989 interview with James Arness, Amanda Blake, and Gunsmoke writer, director, screenwriter, and producer John Mantley for the Museum of Radio and Television., James Arness made himself a household name when he resided as the law-abiding Marshal Matt Dillon on “Gunsmoke” for 20 years on CBS. He has one of the longest consecutive years of playing the same character on television. He started his reign in 1955 and stayed with “Gunsmoke” and the other regular cast members until the show ended in 1975., The Worm: Directed by Arthur Hiller. With James Arness, Dennis Weaver, Kenneth Tobey, H.M. Wynant. Murders follow when a buffalo hunter and his browbeaten partner come to town., Arness came to Hollywood by hitchhiking and soon began acting and appearing in films. He began with RKO, which immediately changed his name from "Aurness". His ..., She also appeared in movies and TV shows, including Edge of Night , Brothers, and The New Dragnet. Of course, Amanda came back to play Miss Kitty in the 1985 television reunion movie, Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge opposite James Arness, to the delight of Gunsmoke fans. Her Legacy Lives On. On August 16, 1989, Amanda Blake passed away., American television hero. Through his portrayal of iconic US television characters, such as Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke and Zeb Macahan in How the west was won, James Arness (1923-2011) reached audiences across generations, and around the world.. James Arness got his first film role in the 1947 movie The farmer's daughter, starring Loretta Young and Joseph Cotton; mainly because he knew ..., How old is James Arness? US actor James Arness was born James Aurness on May 26, 1923 and died on June 3, 2011. James Arness would have been 88 years old at the time of his death., Gunsmoke aired its final episode on March 31, 1975. James Arness was 51 years old at the time. He had played the role of Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years, making him one of the longest-running TV actors in history. Arness was proud of his work on the show and often spoke about how much he enjoyed playing the character of Dillon., But, he did recommend Arness for the part of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke. According to TV Guide, he initially responded to the movie star, "Duke, you ruined my career!" 'Gunsmoke ..., Jenny: Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Burt Reynolds. A bank robber hides out in Dodge, bringing along his girl. While he's gambling away his loot, his girl casts her eye on Matt., James Arness, the Gunsmoke star, was nudged into acting by a buddy from the military. ... James Arness talked about his two decades of Gunsmoke and how he got into acting with TrueWest magazine. This was back in 2001, when he was 78 and in a mood to reflect on his expansive, interesting life. ... it all started because Arness had a good buddy ..., Amanda Blake (born Beverly Louise Neill, February 20, 1929 [1] – August 16, 1989) was an American actress best known for the role of the red-haired saloon proprietress "Miss Kitty Russell" on the western television series Gunsmoke. Along with her fourth husband, Frank Gilbert, she ran one of the first successful programs for breeding cheetahs ..., Amanda Blake's final episode on Gunsmoke is entitled "The Disciple," which originally aired on April 1, 1974. After Amanda's departure, the writers decided that Miss Kitty had left Dodge City and moved to New Orleans. Fran Ryan was introduced as Hannah, the new saloon owner. Gunsmoke only lasted one more season, its 20th, …, Jenny Lee Arness, born on May 23, 1950, was the daughter of James Arness and his first wife, Virginia Chapman. Growing up in a family deeply involved in the entertainment industry, it was only natural for Jenny to develop an interest in acting. She made her acting debut in 1963 when she was just thirteen years old, appearing in an episode of ..., Here are few things you should know about the show Gunsmoke: James Arness was in all 635 episodes: James Arness played the role of Dillon in Gunsmoke, the only character to appear in all 635 episodes of the television series. Milburn Stone, who played Doc Adams, performed almost in all episodes, except he missed six because of a heart attack., According to Reuters, Arness died on June 3, 2011, of natural causes at the age of 88 in Los Angeles, California. His business manager, Ginny Fazer, said he was in relatively good health, but had ..., James Arness (How the West Was Won) is back in the saddle as U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon for one last time - the character Arness immortalized in Gunsmoke (1955-1975), the most popular western show in television history and the longest running primetime dramatic TV series of all time., Amanda started with the show, airing on its first episode which ran in 1955. How old is Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke? James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over the television landscape for two decades as righteous Dodge City lawman Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke," died Friday. He was 88., Loved James Arness in Gunsmoke from start to finish. He was an excellent actor who would keep viewer interest on a weekly basis. ... I am 86 years old & have watched James Arness since the ..., David Mikkelson. Published Nov. 9, 1997. Claim: Claim: John Wayne was initially offered the role of Marshal Matt Dillon for the television version of Gunsmoke. Status: False. Origins: The role of ..., James Arness was born on May 26, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He started his career as a radio announcer in Minnesota in 1945. James served in World War II at Anzio where he was wounded. ... In 1955 John Wayne introduced James on the first episode of "Gunsmoke". From 1955 through 1975 he played Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke" which was the longest ..., How Did He Die? November 8, 2022 by Maria Daniel. James Arness Height : an American actor, best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon for 21 years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke, was born James King Aurness and passed away on June 4, 2011. Arness holds the distinction of portraying Dillon for five decades: from 1955 to 1976 in the weekly ..., One of the most successful dramatic shows in television history was "Gunsmoke." The Western, which aired on CBS from 1955 to 1975, is one of the longest-running live action shows to air in ..., 'Gunsmoke' is an iconic American radio and television Western drama series that originally aired on radio from 1952 to 1961 and later transitioned to television, where it ran from 1955 to 1975. Created by Norman Macdonnell and John Meston, the show is considered one of the greatest and most enduring classics in the history of American broadcast entertainment.Radio Version (1952-1961): The ..., September 10, 1955…"Gunsmoke" Debuts With John Wayne Intro. ... James Arness was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and took part in the invasion of Anzio where he was severely wounded in the leg and foot by machine-gun fire. He lost part of his foot and the wound plagued him the rest of his life. ... before his feet and knees started ..., Product Description. James Arness, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis. America's longest-running Western TV show celebrates it's 50th Anniversary with a bang! Volume 1 offers up 17 classic episodes on 3 DVDs. 1955-64/b&w-color/10 hrs., 22 min/PG-13., How Many Brothers And Sisters Did James Arness Have. James Arness, renowned for his iconic role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the long-running TV series "Gunsmoke," was not an only child. He had a close-knit family that included several siblings. Curious to know how many brothers and sisters James Arness had? Let's dive into the details ..., After James Arness left Gunsmoke in 1975 he went on to later do a series called "How The West Was Won" then an aging Arness (64 years old when he did the first movie) returned to the iconic role that made him famous. In this the fourth movie of five, Arness was around 70 years old. He was clearly too old for the part, but pulled it off nicely ..., July 16, 2022 | Knoxville, TN | Friend. 1. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at the age of 88 in Brentwood, California., From then on, Arness played little else but Matt Dillon, including in five television movies between 1987 and 1994, ending with Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice, in which the 71-year-old was still ..., James Arness, best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on the iconic western TV series Gunsmoke, underwent a surprising transformation early in his career. ... He was the only actor to appear in all 635 episodes of Gunsmoke (1955). In 1968, he donated his 1,400-acre ranch in northern Los Angeles County to the Brandis Institute.