Daughter Jenny died of a drug overdose in 1975. James Arness's Wife Died of Drug Overdose. James Arness was born in Minneapolis. James Arness was engaged to Thordis Brandt (1970 - 1972). They dated for 2 years after getting together in Feb 1946 and married on 12th Feb 1948. It was really interesting about the macho culture. At his mothers urging, he enrolled at Beloit College in Wisconsin but was soon drafted by the U.S. Army. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Arness was married twice, first to Virginia Chapman in 1948, and then to Janet Surtees in 1978. Apparently, Mr. Arness was the one who took in the 3 kids as a single dad, following the divorce. Talking about his movies, he appeared in different movies, some of them include The Farmers Daughter, Iron Man, Hondo, The Sea Chase, The First Traveling Saleslady, and many more. Then he is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Arness stopped working at the beach to get a steady job and her parents approval. Following those events,Arness divorced her in1963, ending their marriage of 15 years. She was married to John S. Burton, Jr. and James Arness (divorced in 1960). (12 February 1948 - 5 April 1963) (divorced) (3 children) His goal at the company was to get clients in the real estate market to opt for more prominent display ads. It was such a tragedy what happened to this beautiful young woman. [8][6], His military decorations included the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, the EuropeanAfricanMiddle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Arness met future wife Virginia Chapman while both were studying at Southern California's Pasadena Playhouse. [1] His parents were businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler. Arness had a dream to be a pilot as a naval fighter. Chapman's parents could not help but wonder what their daughter saw in Arness. As U.S. Also, out of sadness comes wisdom. Although James was married to the love of his life, their relationship could not last. [8][9], After his discharge from the service, Arness began his entertainment career as a radio announcer at Minneapolis station WLOL in 1945. Thats right, Lee was the daughter of the late acto James Arness and his late wife Virginia Chapman. The pair welcomed their second child, Rolf, in February 1952, and with Arness making between $20-30,000 a year, life looked perfect. Of course, we have to start with the star himself, James Arness. The daughter of the Gunsmoke star, however, had a saddening life. He later changed the spelling of his name in Hollywood. . Then Wayne made an on-air introduction before the first episode and predicted Arness would become a big star. Nonetheless, this new deal started causing problems in Chapman and Arnesss marriage. Before Janet, James was married to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until 1963; the couple had three children, Rolf, Craig, and Jenny Lee, who died of suicide in 1975. Largely for his ability to mimic a Swedish accent, Arness was hired for a role in The Farmers Daughter (1947), for which Loretta Young won an Academy Award. | Source: Getty Images. Talking about his achievements in his acting career, he had won the Bronze Wrangler Award thrice. The family name was entitled to the title Aursnes because his father migrated from Norway in 1887. There was an error deleting this problem. 2 years after the death of her darling daughter, Virginia Chapman Arness passed away from an accidental drug overdose. Anyone can read what you share. 12 years later they divorced on 5th Apr 1963. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. This is a carousel with slides. James King Arness (May 26, 1923 - June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon in the television series Gunsmoke for 20 years. Arness relished outdoor life as a youth, saying he was a poor student and often cut classes in high school. She survived him. This account has been disabled. | Source: Getty Images. His film debut was as Loretta Young's (Katie Holstrom) brother, Peter Holstrom, in The Farmer's Daughter. James Arness met Thordis Brandt, who was his girlfriend for six years before they ended their relationship. After starring in a Greek drama, a man approached Arness and asked to meet at the Charles Feldman Agency the next day. Children of this Relationship. The former had been involved in his career until that moment and wanted to continue helping her husband. This new job allowed Arness to buy a new car and dress up nicely. . Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Home. James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 - June 3, . Arness, a quiet, intensely private man who preferred the outdoor life to Hollywoods party scene, rarely gave interviews and refused to discuss the tragedies. When was Jenny Lee Arness born? In 1948, Arness married Virginia Chapman and adopted Craig, her son. The actor called her his best friend, who had supported him through some rough times. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? The pair had a beautiful relationship, and Arness often even gushed about his second wife. Peter used the stage name "Graves", a maternal family name. Champman disclosed that she had overly exerted into her husband and his career and, in doing so, lost her identity. Janet's husband was first married to Virginia Chapman in 1948. Details on His Parents, High School Football, and more, Chance Hogan: Things You Didnt Know About Paul Hogans Son, Who Is Laela Wilding? Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). So when Arness left, she could not find her identity in herself, her community, family, or friends. His younger brother Peter, also an actor, chose the name Graves for his credits, which included the Mission Impossible television series. Jenny Lee Arness was an actress, known for Gunsmoke (1955). On the contrary, some sources claim that Jenny Lee was suffering from a rare psychological disorder i.e., schizophrenia. They wed in 1948 and had two children, Jenny and Rolf. Arness and his wife Virginia Chapman in 1956. [5], Although Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot, he was concerned his poor eyesight would bar him. daughter, Jenny, took her own life in May 1975 with an overdose of sleeping pills. At the time, Arness struggled to make ends meet as he was not making much from his work as a beachcomber. To use this feature, use a newer browser. [24] James Arness disdained publicity and banned reporters from the Gunsmoke set. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. The actor also requested if he could call Surtees, and she agreed. His first marriage, to actress Virginia Chapman, ended in divorce. TV Guide dubbed him "The Greta Garbo of Dodge City". And they also had a son, Rolf who was born on February 18, 1952. Arness met future wife Virginia Chapman while both were studying at Southern Californias Pasadena Playhouse. You have entered an incorrect email address! Verify and try again. During his life, Arness had three serious relationships. . On the contrary, after years of struggling, when Lees father finally got his big break, Chapman started to have problems with his busy actor life. | Source: Getty Images. I lost my husband to his career and therefore experienced my share of tragedy, heartache, and sorrow. Therefore, after almost 15 years of tying the knot, they officially separated. James Arness had an encounter with Tura Satana. He also has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. GREAT NEWS! James Arness died of natural causes at the age of 88 on 3rd June 2011. Apparently, the musician left poor Jenny for Cher, the most beautiful singer of her time. The marriage ended in divorce. He was born James King Aurness inMinneapolis, Minnesota. Blake sure earned a lot of clams working on the show. (Jerry Skinner Documentary)", "In Gunsmoke, we never see Matt have a good belly laugh,", "James Arness, Marshal on 'Gunsmoke,' Dies at 88", "Appreciation of Honorary U.S. Failed to delete memorial. Add to your scrapbook. After Gunsmoke ended, Arness performed in Western-themed movies and television series, including How the West Was Won, and in five made-for-television Gunsmoke movies between 1987 and 1994. The next day he called to invite her out to Mammoth Lakes, and the pair flew to the lake in Arnesss Beechcraft Bonanza plane. Other than that, there is no controversy surrounding him. James first married Virginia Chapman at the age of 25. had acquired a wife pretty brunette named Virginia Chapman, who was . According to his death of birth, he is 70 years old and holds American nationality. Different rumors were there about the long-term relationship between James Arness and actress Thordis Brandt. Daughter Jenny died of a drug overdose in 1975. Instead, he applied for a job at the Los Angeles Examiner, where he got the position in the classified advertising department. Arness due to his height was the first man to be ordered off his landing craft to determine the depth of the water; it came up to his waist. She married Arness as a beachcomber who would later become a superstar actor due to his sterling performance in the TV show Gunsmoke. Chapman confessed: As his career sky-rocketed, I gradually realized I was tied to a star that had turned into a comet shooting into outer space, leaving me earth-bound and terribly alone. Moreover, He was the tallest leading man in Hollywood by the time. The pair divorced in 1963, leaving him with legal custody of their children. An urban legend has it that John Wayne was offered the leading role of Matt Dillon in the longtime favorite television show Gunsmoke, but he turned it down, instead recommending James Arness for the role. In January 1950, the pair expanded their family when Chapman gave birth to their daughter, Jenny, at Good Samaritan Hospital. They divorced in 1963 and in 1967 he began dating actress Thord Brandt. For instance, Arness was previously married to Virginia Chapman from 1948 to 1960. Was it the break-up with her long-time lover or did Jenny suffer from a mysterious disease? She told me to get my act together and do something that would make him proud of me, Arness said in his autobiography. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. At present, Arness's only surviving child is his sonRolf, whobecame a world surfing champion in 1970. The Arnesses had been divorced since 1963. Arness and Chapman had two children, a daughter as well as a son. He was shipped to Naples in December 1943 and was wounded two months later by German machine-gun fire at Anzio. Many speculate it was one of the main reasons why Jenny Lee took her own life in 1975. Try again later. This was the exact situation of Jenny Lee and her love life before her tragic death. But Arness usually stated that his height was 6 feet 6 inches in the regular newspaper and TV interviews. Even more so, this bad decision of hers was prompted by the news of her ex-boyfriends marriage to Cher in 1975. James Arness is not having an affair with anyone presently. On the day he was to meet Chapman's parents, Arness showed up in a wrecked car and did not look like he took life seriously. Looking at her surname, were sure you can guess who her dad is. As mentioned earlier, Jenny Lee suffered a tragic break-up three years before passing away. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 - June 4, 2011) was an American actor best known for his role as Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS television . Relationship Statistics of James Arness: What is James Arness's marital status? Inside Details on Jermaine Jacksons son, Who Is Dylan Lane? Off camera, his loud, infectious laugh could bring filming to a halt. Fortunately, there arent many times when show business intrudes on our family existence.. James "Jim" Arness And Wife Janet Pose For A Photograph In Their Garden In 1995 In Brentwood, Ca. Arness adopted Chapman's son, Craig, and the couple had two children, a son named Rolf (named after Arness' father), and his . Arness met future wife Virginia Chapman while both were studying at Southern California's Pasadena Playhouse . What was Arness like before her death? Moreover, he had also won the Golden Boot Award. They went on to have two more children, whom they named Jenny and Rolf but were divorced by 1963. Arness and Blake get big laughs at Dennis Weaver's rope fumbling during a rehearsal. It aired for 20 seasons and made him and other actors in it world-famous. But she died of a drug overdose in 1975. James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at the age of 88 in Brentwood, California. Ex-Wife of James Arness. We have estimated Virginia Chapman's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets. In 1981, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Arness peers over a collar of leis he received after he crossed the finish line first in the Multihull Transpacific Yacht Race, Sunday, July 15, 1968, in Honolulu. He landed on Anzio Beachhead on January 22, 1944, which was mentioned in the Autobiography that stated about James Arness. The pair subsequently fell in love and started a romantic relationship. James Arness Bore the Grief of Losing Two Children before His Death. Shooting on the Gunsmoke set was sometimes suspended because Arness got a case of the uncontrollable giggles. 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The actor said she remained his soulmate and a gift he thanks the Lord for daily. | Source: Getty Images. [8], On the 50th anniversary of television in 1989 in the United States, People magazine chose the "top 25 television stars of all time." Photograph: Late Actor, James Arness With His First Wife, Virginia Chapman And Their Three Children Source: Pinterest Moreover, like before, there isnt any concrete evidence to support this theory. James Arness was previously married to Virginia Chapman (1948 - 1960). He received theBronze Star and thePurple Heart. Sister of Craig Aurness and Rolf Aurness. The Arness family at home. . Arness and his wifeVirginia Chapman in 1956. James Arness. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. James adopted her son, Craig. , went on to star in the TV series Mission Impossible.. When 88 year old James Arness, passed away on June 11,2011 he known for his landmark role given to him by his friend John Wayne. The Arness family at home. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. He grew up with his sibling, his younger brother, Peter Graves who is also an actor. The series' season record was tied in 2010 with the final season of Law & Order and tied again in 2018 with season 20 of Law & Order: SVU. The TV relationship between Matt and Kitty is a miracle of subtle delineation. He was drafted into the US Army and reported to Fort Snelling in March 1943. Actor James Arness poses for a photo circa 1950 in Los Angeles, California. James Arness, a 6-foot-6 actor, died of natural causes on Friday, June 3, 2011. James Arness, best known for his role as a towering Dodge City lawman in Gunsmoke, died at home in his sleep Friday. His former wife Virginia also died of a drug overdose in 1977. He had also made the decision to adopt Chapman's son from a different relationship. Iconic actor James Arness was working as a beachcomber when he met actress Virginia Chapman. Committed suicide by drug overdose. They met and later married. James Arness Family Life. Mother of Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness, and Jenny Lee Aurness. The former had been involved in his career until that moment and wanted to continue helping her husband. Try again later. [3], Arness entered Beloit College that fall, where he joined the campus choir and became a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Please reset your password. Well, Arness passed away at a very young age; Lee was just 24 years old when the star kid took her own life. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. But because of his poor vision and problem with eyesight was the major obstacle that blocked him from it. Chapman confessed: "As his career sky-rocketed, I gradually realized I was tied to a star that had turned into a comet shooting into outer space, leaving me earth-bound and terribly alone. Age: N/A . Search above to list available cemeteries. The man who she thought would be the love of her life left her for another woman. Actor James Arness in Western Clothing. He was credited in The Farmer's Daughter as Aurness.[8]. This browser does not support getting your location. While she had been writing as a hobby in the past, she has lately been using her love for movies and content writing to pursue a career. 12 years later they divorced on 5th Apr 1963. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. What happened to James Arness first wife? He notes his break into acting in movies and lists several in which he appeared. James Arness Married Two Times In His Life. Before dating Janet Surtees, James Arness was married to Virginia Chapman for over thirty years. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. His daughter died in 1975. As it turns out, the actress overdosed on sleeping pills on 29th July 1977. He was found dead at Brentwoods home in Los Angeles, California. Surtees got married to James Arness on December 16th, 1978. I lost my husband to his career and therefore experienced my share of tragedy, heartache, and sorrow., Actor James Arness waits on the set of Gunsmoke in Los Angeles, California. After Chapman's parents saw Arness's determination, they suggested that once they were married, the couple should move into the house on Beverly Boulevard near Alvarado, where they ran their chinaware business. However, Arness was awarded custody of the children, and Chapman continued living in Los Angeles. Learn more about managing a memorial . [23], In 1978, Arness married Janet Surtees. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Drag images here or select from your computer for Virginia Chapman Arness memorial. This reason crushed the 24-year-olds heart into a million pieces and she fell into deep grief. Arness subsequently asked her out to ski whenever she had the chance and walked her to the car after dinner. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. His fathers name is Rolf Virkler Aurness who was from Norway. Discharged in early 1945, Arness returned to Minneapolis and entered a two-year program at the University of Minnesota. She was only 56 years old at the time. But they didnt accept their relationship in public. View the latest Biography and also find Married Life, Net Worth, Salary, Career & More. Wayne introduced Arness in a prologue to the first episode of Gunsmoke, in 1955. She was previously married to James Arness and Leo Myron Morton. [13] Arvo Ojala, who taught Arness to shoot, was the first of several actors in the show's opening where Marshal Dillon has a shootout with what is described as "a generic bad guy" representing all those which Dillon must deal with. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. However, Arness waited three months when they returned before calling Surtees again. [27] His body was interred in the Sanctuary of Abiding Hope alcove in the Jasmine Terrace section of the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. [28] In 1996, TV Guide ranked him number 20 on its "50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time" list. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Virginia Chapman was born on 14 June 1921 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He had started surfing from a young age with the support of his father. 3. At 6 feet, 7 inches, Arness played a serious lawman in Dodge City. [10], Determined to find work in films, Arness hitchhiked to Hollywood,[11] where he made the rounds to agencies and casting calls and soon began acting and appearing in films. He was married twice, first to actress Virginia Chapman in 1948. Sorry! The marriage foundered and in 1963 Arness sought a divorce and custody of the three children, which he was granted. | Source: Getty Images. James Jim Arness And Wife Janet Pose For A Photograph In Their Garden In 1995 In Brentwood, Ca. Chapman and Arness divorced in 1963. The pair subsequently fell in love and started a romantic relationship. Following the aforementioned "Gunsmoke" TV movies (the last in 1994, when Arness was 71), Arness basically retired. [3], Arness attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. : Actor James Arness poses with his wife Janet during a signing of his new book "James Arness: An Autobiography" at the Gene Autry Museum November 3, 2001 in Los Angeles, CA. They were in a relationship for six years before they went their separate ways. However, Arness was awarded custody of the children, and Chapman continued living in Los Angeles. Arness was a respected soldier of World War II. The star, James Anness, has been married twice in his life.