James Arness left behind an essential legacy by bringing beloved and unforgettable characters to life on both the small and big screens. His work can be found across various mediums. James wasn’t only a fantastic actor; he was also a man with a huge heart and a lot of love to offer to the people around him, particularly the lady with whom he planned to spend the rest of his life.
Born in Minneapolis, James had a number of different occupations before achieving meteoric success as an actor. In addition to working as a logger in Idaho, he also had a job as a messenger for a jewelry wholesaler in his hometown. There, he loaded and unloaded railroad boxcars in freight yards. After that, he served his country in the military during World War II. He was critically injured while fighting at the Battle of Anzio, which resulted in him undergoing a number of surgeries.
After completing his service in the armed forces and receiving an honorable discharge in 1945, he quickly began a career in the entertainment business by working as a radio announcer for the Minneapolis station WLOL. But this was only the beginning of an eventful career ahead of him. He had higher aspirations for himself and decided to test his luck in Hollywood.
James, like many aspiring actors in Hollywood, had to go around to various agencies and attend numerous casting calls before achieving his goal. This was no easy task. He made his film debut in “The Farmer’s Daughter.” Although James is most recognized for his roles in Western films, he also appeared in several science fiction movies, such as “The Thing From Another World” and “Them.” Additionally, he starred in the television adaptation of the John Wayne classic “Red River” in 1988.
However, he became famous worldwide for his role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the television series “Gunsmoke.” After airing for 21 seasons over two decades, “Gunsmoke” established itself in 1976 as the longest-running primetime drama series in US television history when it was finally taken off the air.
Beyond his successful acting career, James had a fulfilling personal life. In 1948, he married his first wife, Virginia Chapman, and adopted her son, Craig, who later became a photographer for National Geographic. Sadly, Craig died in 2004. James and Virginia also had a biological son named Rolf, who went on to win the world championship in surfing. Tragically, their daughter Jenny passed away in 1975 due to a heroin overdose. By then, James and Virginia had been divorced for over a decade. In 1977, Virginia Chapman also passed away from a heroin overdose, two years after Jenny’s death.
After divorcing Chapman in 1963, James began a relationship with Thordis Brandt four years later, which lasted for six years. However, it wasn’t until 1978 that James would finally meet the woman of his dreams, Janet Surtees, who would later become Janet Arness. They were introduced by his makeup artist Glen Alden, whose wife owned a clothing business where Janet was employed at the time.
“She would regale me with tales about Jim and their many exploits, but I never met him. Then one evening she said, ‘Well, Jim is going to be coming over for supper. Why don’t you come over here and introduce yourself to him?’ And at that moment I thought, ‘Ew, an actor I’m not familiar with,’” Janet recalled during an interview with A Word on Westerns in 2017.
Even though Janet’s initial reaction was one of reluctance, she decided to watch “Gunsmoke” with her son since he enjoyed the show.
“On the other hand, my kid was a huge Gunsmoke fan and used to watch the show religiously on Monday evenings. So I thought, ‘Well, well, I’ll see Jim and tell my kid I met him,’” she recounted.
Janet’s anxiety disappeared once they began chatting about various topics, such as their families, jobs, and hobbies.
Janet said that despite being a renowned actor, James was “down-to-earth.” “Then there was a knock at the door, and this enormous dude walked through the entrance. ‘Oh my god, he is a large person,’” Janet exclaimed. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, he is a big guy.’” She continued, “He was quite courteous and pleasant.”
James promised Janet that he would get in touch with her the following day. She said that after dinner, he took her out to her car and said, “Well, I’d like to contact you.” The next day, James called Janet and invited her to join him in the mountains by hopping on his private jet, flying with him, and spending the day there. She agreed. After that, they participated in various outdoor activities, including horseback riding and having a picnic. He brought her back the next day by airplane, but he did not contact her again after that exchange.
Although Janet’s friend, who owned the clothing boutique, urged her to give James a call, Janet was hesitant and ultimately decided not to. It had been three months since James had last contacted her.
“She suggested that I get in touch with Jim by dialing his number,” Janet recalled. “Then I said, ‘I bet Jim has a lot of ladies calling,’ and he laughed. I told him, ‘He already has my number. If he wanted to call, he would.’” Janet said, “He did contact me, and we went to supper together.”
After their second date, they quickly developed a strong bond, leading to their eventual marriage. Janet commented that they had a wonderful friendship that remained constant for the remainder of his life.
Even after James passed away in 2011 from natural causes, Janet continued to feel the love he had for her. In 2017, Janet published a letter that James had written for his followers, which included the most endearing statement he could have written for his wife. Reflecting on his life, James remarked, “The highlight of it all was spending time with my wife, Janet, and our three children.”
