James Arness Bio
James Arness Net Worth At Death
James Arness, an American actor best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the CBS television series Gunsmoke, had a net worth of $27.95 million at the time of his passing.
James Arness Gunsmoke Salary
James Arness received $1,200 per episode in the early seasons of Gunsmoke for his portrayal of Marshal Matt Dillon. He renegotiated his contract and began earning $20,000 per episode once the television show won accolades and became more famous. This would have cost roughly $150,000 now.
James Arness Bio
James Arness, real name James King Aurness, was an American actor best remembered for his 20-year starring role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011. Arness holds the distinction of playing Dillon throughout five decades, appearing in four more made-for-television Gunsmoke films in the 1990s in addition to the weekly series from 1955 to 1975. For his role as Zeb Macahan in the Western series How the West Was Won, Arness attained cult status in Europe. His older brother was the actor Peter Graves.
James Arness Cause Of Death
What caused James Arness’s death? At the age of 88, Arness passed away at his Brentwood, Los Angeles, home on June 3, 2011, from natural causes. His remains were interred in the Sanctuary of Abiding Hope niche in the Jasmine Terrace section of Glendale, California’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park’s Great Mausoleum.
James Arness Wife & Children
Virginia Chapman was a wife to James Arness.
Virginia Chapman’s son Craig, who passed away on December 14, 2004, was adopted by Arness after they wed in 1948. Rolf Arness, who was born on February 18, 1952, and Jenny Lee Arness are the children of Arness and Chapman. Rolf Aurness won the world surfing title in 1970.
After the couple’s divorce in 1963, Arness was granted legal custody of the kids. In 1975, Jenny, Arness’s daughter, overdosed on drugs and passed away. Virginia, his first wife, passed away in 1977 after overdosing on drugs.