Obituary of James Arness

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James Arness

James Arness (born May 26th, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) was a TV Actor who was best recalled for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon on the American TV series "Gunsmoke". James died on June 3rd, 2011 in Los Angeles and his death was reporedly because of "natural causes". He lived to the age of 88.

Please help us remember the life of James Arness by contributing to his obituary, his family tree, funeral, burial, his birth, family, career and death in the sections below.

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James Arness Biography Wiki:

    • Is He Dead or Alive: Dead
    • Full Name: Arness, James
    • Common Name: James Arness
    • Gender: Male
    • Preferred Gender Pronoun: he/him
    • Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
    • Birth Date: May 26, 1923
    • Age: 88 (at death)
    • Also Known As: Jim, James Aurness
    • Occupations:
    • Nationality: American
    • Favorite Food: Pop-Tarts
    • Favorite Color: Burgandy
    • Favorite Scent: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb
    • Favorite Actor: Michael Caine

    James's Family Tree

    • Birth Name: James King Aurness
    • Father: Rolf Cirkler Aurness
    • Mother: Ruth Duesler
    • Brother(s):
    • Spouse/Partner:
      • Janet Surtrees (married 16 December 1978-his death)
      • Virginia Chapman (married. 12 February 1948-divorced 1960)
    • Son(s):
      • Rolf Aurness (born 1971)
    • Daughter(s):
      • Jenny Lee Aurness (born 23 May 1950-12 May 1975)

Death Notice:

  • Date: June 03 2011 at age 88
  • Place: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Cause of Death: Natural causes (unspecified)
  • Interment: The Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Category Tags:

TV ActorFilm Actor American Born on May 26th Born in 1923 Born in Minnesota Died in 2011 Died at age 88 Died from Natural causes

Quotable Quotes:

""If they were man and wife, it would make a lot of difference. The people upstairs decided it was better to leave the show as it was, which I totally agreed with." - on why his Gunsmoke character, Marshal Dillon, never married Miss Kitty." (IMDB)

"Mister Arness was an iconic actor whose impact on the entertainment industry and the hearts of his most devoted fans will never be forgotten. (V)"

"James Arness was a well-known American actor whose professional life was heavily influenced by his iconic role as Marshal Matt Dillon on the TV series "Gunsmoke," but sadly, his life was cut short due to natural causes. (V)"

Is Mr. James Arness still alive? According to our unconfirmed records, he has passed away.

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Celebrity Obit Rating: 4 Stars
Wiki Page Updated: 2025-07-20 13:04:44
Author: Tucker
Confirmation: James Arness on Wikipedia


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