James Arness
Acting
51
Acting Credits
Biography
The star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, Gunsmoke (1955). Born of Norwegian heritage (the family name, Aurness (formerly had been Aursness) in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Rolf and Ruth Duesler Aurness. His father was a traveling salesman of medical supplies and his mother later became a newspaper columnist. James attended West High School in Minneapolis. Although he appeared in school plays, he had no interest in performing, and dreamed instead of going to sea...
Known For
Filmography
Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice
1994
as Matt Dillon
Gunsmoke: The Long Ride
1993
as Matt Dillon
Gunsmoke: To the Last Man
1992
as Matt Dillon
Gunsmoke: The Last Apache
1990
as Matt Dillon
John Wayne Standing Tall
1989
as Self - Host
Red River
1988
as Thomas Dunson
Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
1987
as Matt Dillon
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory
1987
as Jim Bowie
McClain's Law
1981
as Det. Jim McClain
The Horror Show
1979
as (archive footage)
How the West Was Won
1977
as Zeb Macahan
The Macahans
1976
as Zeb Macahan
Why Vietnam?
1965
as Narrator
Alias Jesse James
1959
as Marshal Matt Dillon (uncredited)
The Western: A Lost TV Special
1958
as Self
Gun the Man Down
1956
as Rem Anderson
The First Traveling Saleslady
1956
as Joel Kingdom
The Sea Chase
1955
as Schlieter
Many Rivers to Cross
1955
as Esau Hamilton
Flame of the Islands
1955
as Kelly Rand
Gunsmoke
1955
as Marshal Matt Dillon
The Johnny Carson Show
1955
Them!
1954
as FBI Agent Robert Graham
Her Twelve Men
1954
as Ralph Munsey
Hondo
1953
as Lennie
Island in the Sky
1953
as Mac McMullen
The Lone Hand
1953
as Gus Varden
The Veils of Bagdad
1953
as Targut
Big Jim McLain
1952
as Mal Baxter
Horizons West
1952
as Tiny McGilligan
Carbine Williams
1952
as Leon Williams
The Girl in White
1952
as Matt
Hellgate
1952
as George Redfield
The Thing from Another World
1951
as 'The Thing'
The People Against O'Hara
1951
as John Fordman 'Johnny' O'Hara
Iron Man
1951
as Alex Mallick
Two Lost Worlds
1951
as Kirk Hamilton
Cavalry Scout
1951
as Barth
The Red Skelton Show
1951
as Self
Stars in My Crown
1950
as Rolfe Isbell (uncredited)
Wagon Master
1950
as Floyd Clegg
Wyoming Mail
1950
as Russell
Sierra
1950
as Little Sam (as Jim Arness)
In a Lonely Place
1950
as Young Detective (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Chuck Scott
Battleground
1949
as Garby
The Man from Texas
1948
as (uncredited)
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
Roses Are Red
1947
as Ray (as James Aurness)
The Farmer's Daughter
1947
as Peter Holstrom (as James Aurness)
Front Row Center
1945