Virginia Arness was a Hollywood actress who was best known for being the first wife of James Arness, the star of the classic western series Gunsmoke. She appeared in several TV shows and movies in the 1950s and 1960s, such as Perry Mason, Highway Patrol, and Sheriff of Cochise. However, her life was not as glamorous as it seemed. She struggled with mental health issues, substance abuse, and marital problems. She also faced a tragic loss when her daughter, Jenny Lee Arness, committed suicide in 1975. Two years later, Virginia Arness died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 56. What led to her tragic demise? Here are some facts and details about Virginia Arness’s cause of death.
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A Troubled Marriage with James Arness
Virginia Arness married James Arness in 1948, when he was a struggling actor and she was an aspiring actress. She encouraged him to pursue his acting career and supported him throughout his early years. They had three children together: Craig, Jenny Lee, and Rolf. However, their marriage started to deteriorate when James Arness became famous for his role as Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. He became busy with his work and often away from home. He also had affairs with other women, which hurt Virginia deeply. According to Outsider, she once said, “I gave up everything for him. I gave up my career, my friends, my life. And he gave me nothing but heartache.” The couple divorced in 1960, after 12 years of marriage. James Arness got full custody of the children, while Virginia Arness received alimony and visitation rights.
A Struggle with Mental Illness and Addiction
After the divorce, Virginia Arness suffered from depression and anxiety. She also developed a dependency on alcohol and prescription drugs, such as sleeping pills and tranquilizers. She tried to cope with her pain by seeking therapy and joining support groups, but she did not find much relief. She also attempted to revive her acting career, but she did not get many roles. She felt lonely and hopeless, and often isolated herself from her family and friends. She also had a hard time dealing with the fame and success of her ex-husband and her children, who followed him into showbiz. She felt like she had no purpose or identity of her own.
A Tragic Loss of Her Daughter
One of the most devastating events in Virginia Arness’s life was the death of her daughter, Jenny Lee Arness, in 1975. Jenny Lee was the only daughter and the middle child of James and Virginia Arness. She was also an actress, who appeared in a few TV shows and movies, such as The Teenage Millionaire and The Magic Sword. She was engaged to Greg Bautzer, a prominent Hollywood lawyer, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of her. However, she also struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse, like her mother. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had several breakdowns and hospitalizations. She also became addicted to heroin and cocaine, and had a turbulent relationship with Bautzer. On May 12, 1975, she committed suicide by overdosing on drugs at her apartment in Brentwood. She was only 24 years old. Her death was a huge shock and grief for her family, especially for her mother, who blamed herself for not being able to save her.
An Accidental Overdose of Sleeping Pills
Two years after the death of her daughter, Virginia Arness died of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills on July 29, 1977. She was found unconscious at her home in Malibu, and was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She was 56 years old. According to Find a Grave, the coroner ruled her death as accidental, and not a suicide. However, some sources suggest that she may have taken her own life, as she was depressed and suicidal. She left behind a note, which read, “I’m sorry, I love you all.” She was buried at an unknown location, as per her wishes. She was survived by her two sons, Craig and Rolf, and her ex-husband, James Arness, who died in 2011 at the age of 88.
