James Arness of Gunsmoke passed away today at 88. I was brought up on Gunsmoke and always enjoyed the show as a youngster and will watch it occasionally today on TV Land. He played Marshall Matt Dillon for 20 years and also starred in several movies and made for TV productions. Only Kelsey Grammer played a character longer with Frasier Crane. He made quite of few movies for and with John Wayne and his Batjac productions. When Gunsmoke was gearing up for production CBS wanted John Wayne for the role but he passed and recommended Arness. Arness also has had a cult following in the Howard Hawks' classic 1951 monster movie the The Thing and the giant ant movie THEM. People seem to forget that James Arness also had a famous brother in Peter Graves. Rest in Peace Marshall and may Gunsmoke live forever.
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