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James Arness

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Actor

The Resume

    (May 26, 1923-June 3, 2011)
    Birth name is James Aurness
    Acted in 'The Thing from Another World (1951),' 'Big Jim McLain (1952),' and 'Them! (1954)'
    Best known for playing Marshall Matt Dillon on 'Gunsmoke'
    Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers (1981)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was offered the role of Matt Dillon only after John Wayne turned it down.
    His daughter committed suicide (1975).
    He worked as the lead on 'Gunsmoke' for twenty years, being tied for the record with Kelsey Grammar over the longest continuous role portrayed by a single actor.
    He surfed on California beaches after his first movie role and generally lived a leisure life.
    He is known almost exclusively for his work in westerns.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His brother is Peter Graves.
    John Wayne initially took him under his wing and after recommending the role of Matt Dillon to him, he also offered to introduce the series.
    He is 6'7.
    Because of his height, he was placed in the front lines at the Battle of Anzio during World War II and severely injured.
    He eventually had to abandon his two favorite activities, surfing and skiing, because of these injuries.
    He was the tallest actor ever to play a lead role in a television series.
    Partially because of his involvement, 'Gunsmoke' became the longest-running television western.
    Along with Milburn Stone, he stayed the entire 20 year run of 'Gunsmoke.'

Credit: Captain Howdy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 23 Votes: 34.78% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 12 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 60 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 14 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 11.11% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 31 Votes: 29.03% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 23 Votes: 39.13% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 27 Votes: 37.04% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 328 Votes: 46.34% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 150 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 66 Votes: 39.39% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 58 Votes: 32.76% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 138 Votes: 46.38% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 164 Votes: 50.61% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 370 Votes: 43.24% Annoying