James Arness - Matt Dillon

Even today, when I bump into a Gunsmoke re-run, I find myself watching to see how things will turnout in Dodge City or at the Long Branch Saloon. I am still a kid at heart. I grew up on Westerns. In spite of the fighting and shooting, you at least got some type of moral overview. Gunsmoke was great when it came to character studies. There seem to be a story we all could relate to or an outcome that we could at least agree with. If not, occasionally they had something funny from Festus. Today, when I watch, it is fun to see the actors and actresses who, then were very new to the industry, but made it on their own and in some cases stared in their own series.

James Arness seem to really fit the character of Matt Dillon. Six foot seven inches made him an ideal candidate for a western sheriff. After all, would you want to mess with Mr. Dillon? As I think back, he wasn't a man of a lot of words, but his physical stature substituted for the lack of words.

Born May 26, 1923 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He started out with a career as a radio announcer in his hometown in 1945. He served his Country during World War II. Wounded at Anzio, Jim was awarded the Purple Heart.

Jim and his lovely wife Janet are very giving people. Over the years Jim has given his time and personal donations to several non-profit organizations, including ranch acerage to the Brandis Institute; a 60 ft. catamaran name "Sea Smoke" to the Sea Scouts; as well as supporting his favorite charity: the United Cerebral Palsy organization.

James Arness played Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1975. He was encouraged to try out for the part when his friend John Wayne turned down the roll. The two men were friends and shared the same birth date, May 26.