", Held the record for the longest continuous role portrayed by a single actor (20 years) on prime-time television (for Marshal Matt Dillon on the CBS western, On Friday, June 20th, 2003, Arness was honored at Los Angeles City Hall by the mayor, the 15 City Council members and the City Attorney with a resolution honoring his life's work as an actor and 60-year resident of Los Angeles. Once to Virginia Chapman and then to Janet Surtees. Impossible actor Peter Graves died of a heart attack on 14th March 2010. He died from natural causes. Although they were both very active in movies and television at the same time, they never acted together. Why did James Arness and Peter Graves have different names? Verify and try again. He worked for National Geographic and then started a stock photography agency. Good thing they didn't ask my brother (Jim Arness). James Arness, an actor, worked in movies for 60 years. Graves had an elder brother, James Arness, who was also an actor. James Arness (born May 26, 1923 - died June 3, 2011; aged 88) was an actor who played Matt Dillon in all 20 seasons of Gunsmoke and in all of the five Made-for-TV Gunsmoke films which aired on CBS-TV from 1987-94. Learn more about merges. Graves was the only cast member from the original series to return as a regular, reprising his role as Jim Phelps, though others (most notably Greg Morris, whose son Phil was a regular in this version) made guest appearances. F rom 1955 until 1975, James Arness played the righteous, brave and gallant Matt Dillon, the marshal of Dodge City, on the landmark CBS . Who's right? He also became the adoptive father to Virginias son Craig. Who was bigger James Arness or Clint Walker? American audiences missed out seeing the original Aurness brothers on their TV screens. 12 Facts About Leslie Nielsen That You Never Knew - Eighties Kids James Arness - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Wayne suggested Arness for the role of Matt Dillon. Graves was cast as Palmer Kirby in the 1983 ABC miniseries The Winds of War. He never played the lead male role in a theatrical movie, only on the various televised incarnations of, Although they never married, he had a long-term relationship and resided with actress. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. [17] Graves' final project was narrating the computer game epic Darkstar: The Interactive Movie,[18] released November 5, 2010. There is a problem with your email/password. He was Jim Phelps from 1967 to 1973. "If they were man and wife, it would make a lot of difference. Marshal's badge and a salute to his work as Matt Dillon on. Maybe you remember him, too. Although he could not serve as a pilot, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in March 1943. He was Matt Dillon for two decades on the series, then he starred in five more Gunsmoke reunion movies. Graves also won a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding informational series in 1997 as host of Biography. Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His brother is American actor, James Arness . After playing mainly serious roles in the 1970s, he appeared as Captain Clarence Oveur in the early 1980s comedies Airplane! Peter went by the stage name "Graves," which was a maternal family name. Peter Graves Height - CelebHeights Many of them I never had a chance to see when we did them because it was (on television) on Saturday night and I was usually out doing something else at the time. My brother and I have never acted in a movie or show together. He also played Colonel John Camden in the television series 7th Heaven. He was popular for his roles in the CBS Television . Maybe you remember him, too. It became Arness for James. It was Norwegian. Q My wife thinks Gunsmoke actor James Arness is related to Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. After two years in the United States Army Air Force, he studied drama at the University of Minnesota and then headed to . In reality, Wayne suggested Arness for the part and even introduced the first episode of Gunsmoke. Peter opted for a stage name from his maternal side, Graves. Peter Graves Obituary (2010) - Legacy Basically, Graves mocked all the strait-laced characters he ever played. The director of that film, H.C. Potter, recommended that he drop the "u" from his last name and soon thereafter the actor was officially known as James Arness.Little work followed this break, and Arness became sort of beach bum, living on the shore at San Onofre and spending his days surfing. Peter Graves. His talented big brother, thanks to Gunsmoke, also had a similar reputation. It became Arness for James. Two years later he appeared next to John Wayne in the crime-drama film Big Jim McLain, and the next year also starred next to John Wayne in the romantic war-drama film Hondo. He often talked about watching Gunsmoke whenever he saw it on TV. Actor: Stalag 17. Peter Graves was an American actor. James Arness had originally taught his son to surf after he had a nasty fall which left him with a serious skull fracture. and Airplane II: The Sequel. However, in 1971, he was forced to temporarily leave the show for just a handful of episodes because he had to undergo heart surgery after suffering a heart attack. 'Gunsmoke' Star Arness Marshals His Memories - Los Angeles Times Holy Cowl! [24], This article is about the American actor. Before he was a successful actor, he was a radio announcer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I'm 6-6 and weigh 225 pounds. [on going from bit parts to starring on 'Gunsmoke']: Up to that point, I had been what you jokingly call a 'two-page' actor. In the first of these (1968), Graves played a government agent (the Bureau of National Resources) who recruited civilians with special talents for secret missions. | Despite the fact that he was friends with, Was the only actor to appear in all 635 episodes of, Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Marshal Matt Dillon on. However, he usually gave his own height as 6' 6" in interviews. Born as James King Aurness on the 26th of May, 1923, in Minneapolis, USA, the late actor dropped the later "u" in his last name after he took to acting. Then in 1950, when Peter Graves earned a part in the movie Rogue River, he changed his last name to Graves to distinguish himself from his big brother. Arness is the elder brother of actor Peter Graves (his brother Peter Aurness changed his surname to stage name of 'Graves', a maternal family name). To make up for the lost role, an actor . Was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. I was very concerned about it, and it was very hard, the first couple of years, to get really into the character. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. However, two years later, James decided to leave his post and try to succeed as an actor, and believe it or not, he hitchhiked to Hollywood where he signed with RKO Pictures. But, did the talented brothers ever act together? Required fields are marked *. It was a wonderful time through those years. He couldnt return to battle because of the severity of the wounds, and was honorably discharged on the 29th January 1945, but not before receiving the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, and several other decorations, including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars. After two years in the US air force, Graves studied drama at the University of Minnesota. James Arness net worth: James Arness was an American actor who had a net worth of $8 million. Well, his successful career as an actor certainly contributed to his overall net worth. He had a son, Rolf, and daughter, Jenny, with Chapman. It became Arness for James. 'Gunsmoke' Legend James Arness Dies at 88 - The Hollywood Reporter At the time of his passing in 2010, his net worth was estimated to be $8 million due to his extensive credit history and other business endeavors. Year should not be greater than current year. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011, just one week after he celebrated his 88th birthday. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Put the emphasis on big. GREAT NEWS! He had one sibling, Peter Aurness, who would later become known as Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves. Please reset your password. Hed just returned home from brunch when he suffered a fatal heart attack. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. He never wanted to expose his private life to the public world, and he let his career speak for himself. During his 20-year tenure as television's Dodge City law enforcer, Arness garnered three Emmy Award nominations and later became familiar to television audiences for his role in the series "How the West Was Won" (1978 to 1979) and as Detective 'Jim McClain' in "McClain's Law" (1981 to 1982). But Graves did direct a 1955 episode of Gunsmoke, the long-running TV series that starred his big brother in the role of Marshal Matt Dillon. We have set your language to He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Death: July 26, 1982 (88) Simi Valley, Ventura, California, United States. and its 1982 sequel Airplane II: The . Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Peter Duesler Aurness was born on 18 March 1926, in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA, of English, German and Norwegian descent. James King Arness (May 26, 1923 - June 3, 2011) was an American actor. That was a big factor.,
[13] In the second Call To Danger, he portrayed an investigator for the Justice Department.[14]. After the concept for "Gunsmoke" was conceived, producers originally had John Wayne in mind for the part of Matt Dillon. Although Arness died almost a decade ago, his work continues to be held in high regard by fans who grew up watching him keep the peace in Dodge City. Publicity Listings Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA, Brentwood, Los Angeles County, California, USA. Meanwhile, while Arness was protecting Dodge City from the bad guys on Gunsmoke, Graves was an earnest secret agent protecting America on Mission: Impossible. Peter Graves - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia While Arnesss height made it hard for him to be a pilot, it would later come in handy during his days as a leading man in Hollywood. His father, Rolf Aurness, was a businessman, while his mother, Ruth, was a journalist. Graves new surname was a nod to his Minnesota family. Ten days after the invasion, Arness was severely wounded in the leg and foot by German machine-gun fire. On 6/20/05 he was honored at Los Angeles City Hall by the mayor, the 15 City Council members and the City Attorney with a resolution honoring his life's work as an actor and 60-year resident of Los Angeles. Your wife wins this one. Q: Jerry S. Asked: Did you ever make a movie or TV show in which Peter Graves was also an actor?" A: No. "If they were man and wife, it would make a lot of difference. Born Peter Aurness, he participated in athletics and was an accomplished musician before beginning his career as a radio announcer, where he utilized his robust speaking voice. pictures of jenny lee arness - fisvo.org Peter Graves, the actor, was Arness' younger brother. The theme song will take you back in time: In later years, Graves starred as Captain Clarence Oveur in the 1980 comedy Airplane!. So there are many of the shows that I had never seen, Arness told the Signal. Its Peter Graves. He is survived by his wife, Janet Surtees of Brentwood, Los Angeles, California; son, Rolf Arness; stepson, Jim Surtees; six grandchildren, and a great grandchild. James Arness became Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke in 1955. [8] After the series ended in 1973, Graves played a cameo-type support role in the feature film Sidecar Racers in Australia which was released in 1975. Can you guess which TV actors are actually siblings? James Arness Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids, Dating James Arness' Bio. [20] He was married to Joan Endress Graves for 60 years from 1950 until his death. He briefly attended Beloit College in Wisconsin before his service with the United States Army during World War II. Mr. Arness's younger brother was the actor Peter Graves, who starred for years on . Failed to delete memorial. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. - on why his Gunsmoke character, Marshal Dillon, never married Miss Kitty. James soon made his acting debut in the film Farmers Daughter in 1947, and continued with minor film roles such as Ray in Roses Are Red the same year, The Man from Texas in 1948 and Wagon Master in 1950. James Arness - Wikipedia If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Born James King Aurness, his father was a traveling salesman, his mother was a newspaper columnist. https://americanprofile.com/articles/james-arness-peter-graves/, https://americanprofile.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/peter_graves_james_arness-150x150.jpg. In 1967, Graves was recruited by Desilu Studios to replace Steven Hill as the lead actor on Mission: Impossible. The people upstairs decided it was better to leave the show as it was, which I totally agreed with." His older brother, the actor James Arness, also made his name in a TV series (Gunsmoke). His friendship with John Wayne ended in 1959 when Arness failed to show up for an arranged meeting for a role in "The Alamo". And the TV series inspired the Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible movies. Arness was born James King Aurness on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, the son of businessman Rolf Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler. Then in 1950, when Peter Graves earned a part in the movie Rogue River, he changed his last name to Graves to distinguish himself from his big brother. He was an actor best known as Jim Phelps in the 1967 to 1973 CBS series Mission: Impossible. Born as James King Aurness on the 26th May 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA to Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler. The film Killers from Space was featured in The Film Crew, Michael J. Nelson's follow-up to MST3K. James Arness (brother, dead) Peter Graves (March 18, 1926 - March 14, 2010) was an American actor. Born James and Peter Aurness in Minneapolis, the Gunsmoke star-to-be later modified the spelling of his last name to Arness and Peter chose to use their mothers maiden name of Graves. Before Acting, James Wanted to be a Naval Fighter Pilot, https://www.facebook.com/marshalmattdillion/, Who is immaBEAST dancer Lexee Smith? He directed Which Dr. The episode was broadcast in 1966. [9] He played opposite Robert Mitchum, Jan Michael Vincent, Deborah Winters and Ali MacGraw in what became in 1983, the second-most watched miniseries of all time (after Roots). Put the emphasis on big. Arness was a Methodist who lived with his family. Although they were both very active in movies and television at the same time, they never acted together. James Arness enjoyed a wonderful professional career but the same can't be said of his personal life where he prematurely lost so many people he loved before . Death in Small Doses. James Arness Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Please try again later. James Arness Personal Life: Affair, Dating, Girlfriend, Wife, Family & Children. Peter Graves, best known for his role in the 60s TV spy drama Mission: . Graves refused to reprise the role of Jim Phelps (played by Jon Voight) in the first 1996 theatrical film of Mission: Impossible, after the character was revealed to be a traitor and the villain of the film. The actor . Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. He was featured in a key role in the 1953 World War II film, Stalag 17. 'Gunsmoke': James Arness' Brother Was Actually a Hollywood Star Arness became world-famous and years later reprized the character in a series of TV movies.After the surprising cancellation of "Gunsmoke" in 1975, Arness jumped immediately into another successful (though much shorter-lived) Western project, a TV-movie-miniseries-series combination known as "How The West Was Won." American audiences missed out seeing the original Aurness brothers on their TV screens. Graves was preceded in stardom by his older brother James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on TV's Gunsmoke. - on why his Gunsmoke character, Marshal Dillon, never married Miss Kitty. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The Falcon. Press Esc to cancel. Lance got the actor a role as Loretta Young's brother in The Farmer's Daughter (1947). Wayne was still making box office hits at the time anyway, so it would have been a shocker for him to take a lead part in the then-nascent world of television. How are James Arness and Peter Graves related? Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves dies - the Guardian (Archival clip) Peter Graves discusses his brother, James Arness This is a carousel with slides. [7] In the storyline, Cobb is an American who arrives in Australia in the 1850s to establish the country's first stagecoach line, using a bullwhip rather than a gun to fight the crooks he encounters. He . James did so, and a teacher recommended him for a job as an announcer at a Minneapolis radio station. Put away that passportyou don't have to embark on a European excursion to enjoy these 13 of the best presidential quotes for election season. Then in 1950, when Peter Graves earned a part in the movie Rogue River, he changed his last name to Graves to distinguish himself from his big brother. Born James King Aurness, his father was a traveling salesman, his mother was a newspaper columnist. At 20 years, Arness set a record for playing the longest-running role by a single actor in prime time. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. James Arness and His Brother Peter Graves Although the two do not appear to share the same last name, James Arness and Peter Graves are brothers. Jenny Lee Arness, the daughter of actor James Arness, committed suicide just before her 25th birthday in 1975. However, Peter Graves did direct his brother in an episode of Gunsmoke. - On. Although he appeared in school plays, he had no interest in performing, and dreamed instead of going to sea. However, Arness usually gave his own height as 6' 6" in interviews. Nov. 1, 2001 12 AM PT. I had been in about four pictures for his company with him. As for his son, Rolf, he had become a successful surfer. He attended public schools and graduated from West High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1942.