James Arness was born on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was wounded in the Battle of Anzio. He received several medals for his bravery, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
After the war, he pursued a career in acting and became famous for his role as Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running Western series Gunsmoke. He played the character for 20 seasons, from 1955 to 1975, making him one of the most iconic figures in television history.
He also starred in other Westerns, such as How the West Was Won, and sci-fi movies, such as The Thing from Another World. He was the older brother of Mission: Impossible actor Peter Graves.
He was married twice and had three children, two of whom died before him. He also had six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He died on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California. He left a letter for his fans, thanking them for their support and expressing his love for his family.
He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, in the Jasmine Terrace section of the Great Mausoleum.
He is remembered as a legend of the screen and a hero of the war, who touched the lives of millions of people with his talent and charisma.
