- Age: 96
- Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Height: 2.01 m
- Marital Status: Janet Surtees
- Full Name: James King Arness
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: May 26, 1923
- Ethnicity: American
- Occupation: actor
- Education: Minneapolis Washburn High School, Minneapolis West High School, Beloit College
- Children: 4
James Arness was an actor from the US. He was known for playing the role of Marshal Matt in the TV show “Gunsmoke” for around 20 years. He was born in Minneapolis. His father was a businessman and mother was a journalist. He carried mixed blood – Norwegian from his father’s side and German from his mother’s side.
Arness attended high school in Minneapolis. He used Grave as a stage name. While studying in school, he also worked as a courier for a jewelry dealer. In 1942, he graduated from the high school, even though he was not a good student. He wanted to join the naval army, but his poor eye sight deterred him from doing so. He was of 6 feet and 7 inches tall and the limit for aviators was 6 feet 2 inches. He however served as the rifle man and was injured badly during Operation Shingle in Italy. Arness had undergone many surgeries and in the later years, he suffered from severe leg pain and faced some problem while mounting the horse.
After getting discharged, he started his work as a radio presenter in 1945. He made his entry into Hollywood as an actor after this, and began starring in films. Some of the films where he has performed include Battleground, Island in the Sky, Many Rivers to Cross, Gun the Man Down, Cavalry Scout, The People Against O’Hara, Hellgate, and Big Jim McLain among many others. James also acted in two science fiction films. But the production that made him famous Gunsmoke. James has received many awards in his acting career. After this show ended, he started acting in many western movies and TV shows. Arness died in 2011 from natural causes.