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James Arness
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| Nickname: | James Arness / Jim Arness / James Aurness / Jim |
| Known for: | Them!, How the West Was Won, How the West Was Won |
| Birth name: | James Aurness |
| Birthday: | 26 May 1923, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| Height: | 6' 7" (2.01 m) |
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Trivia
Honorary United States Marshal, "in recognition of his unique contribution to the image and traditions of the U.S. Marshal's Service".
Older brother of actor Peter Graves.
According to an article on TV westerns in Time Magazine (March 30, 1959), Arness stood 6' 7", weighed 235 lbs, and had chest-waist-hips measurements of 48-36-36. However, Arness has usually given his height as 6'6" in interviews.
Inducted (as a cast member of "Gunsmoke" (1955)) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1981.
Held the record for the longest continuous role portrayed by a single actor (20 years) on prime-time television (for Marshal Matt Dillon on the CBS western "Gunsmoke" (1955)), until Kelsey Grammer (Dr. Frasier Crane on "Cheers" (1982) and "Frasier" (1993)) tied the record in 2004 (at 20 years).
Member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
Has two sons: Craig Aurness and Rolf Aurness.
Attended Beloit College.
Made four movies with his close friend John Wayne during the 1950s. He was also originally cast in Rock Hudson's role opposite Wayne in The Undefeated (1969). Wayne personally recommended Arness for the lead role in "Gunsmoke" (1955), and filmed an introduction for the first episode.
He never played the lead male role in a theatrical movie, only on the various televised incarnations of "Gunsmoke". In his theatrical films, he usually acted along tall leading men such as John Wayne, Robert Ryan and Jeff Chandler.
During his service in World War II, James Arness received the Bronze Star; the Purple Heart; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars; the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
