Newsgroups: alt.obituaries Subject: James Arness, 88 Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2011 17:20:45 +0000 (UTC)
James Arness of 'Gunsmoke' fame dies at 88 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110603/ap_en_ot/us_obit_james_arness By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer June 3, 2011 CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness has died at age 88. Ender had no further details, but Arness' official website said the actor died Friday of natural causes. Arness played U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon in the 1955-75 CBS Western series that ran on CBS from 1955 to 1975, becoming the longest-running dramatic series in network history until NBC's "Law & Order" tied. The Minnesota native was 32 when friend John Wayne declined the lead role in "Gunsmoke" and recommended Arness instead. Arness said he left home at age 18, hopping freight trains and ships. He was wounded in World War II, then went to Hollywood where he had parts in more than 20 films before going to "Gunsmoke." He was the brother of Peter Graves, star of the TV series "Mission Impossible." -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "World News Now Discussion List" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/wnndl?hl=en.
