James Arness
1923 – 2011

James Arness

American actor (1923–2011)

producerfilm actortelevision actortelevision produceractor
Born
1923-05-26, Minneapolis
Died
2011-06-03
Birthplace state
Minnesota

Biography

James King Arness was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the series Gunsmoke. He has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made-for-television Gunsmoke films in the 1990s. In Europe, Arness reached cult status for his role as Zeb Macahan in the Western series How the West Was Won. He was the older brother of actor Peter Graves.

Occupation

James Arness is recorded as a producer, a film actor, a television actor, a television producer and a actor, born in Minnesota (1923–2011).

Connections to Minnesota

James Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1923. Explore other notable figures from Minnesota, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Minnesota›Minnesotahistory ›Historic sites in Minnesota›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Minneapolis

James Arness came from Minneapolis. A full Aubrey report on Minneapolis pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Minneapolis report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Minnesota

Other historical figures born in Minnesota, ranked by historical prominence.

Judy Garland
Judy Garland
American actress, singer, dancer and vaudevillian (1922–1969)
F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald
American writer (1896–1940)
Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis
American writer and playwright (1885–1951)
Prince
Prince
American musician (1958–2016)
Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Vice President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 (1928–2021)
Melvin Calvin
Melvin Calvin
American biochemist (1911–1997)
Jane Russell
Jane Russell
American actress (1921–2011)

Frequently asked about James Arness

Who was James Arness?
James Arness was American actor (1923–2011), born in Minnesota (1923 – 2011).
When and where was James Arness born?
James Arness was born on 1923-05-26 in Minneapolis.
When did James Arness die?
James died on 2011-06-03.
What was James Arness known for?
James Arness is recorded as a producer, a film actor, a television actor, a television producer and a actor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report