James Arness Passes

[guido911]

Great TV actor and American Hero (wounded at Anzio, WWII)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gunsmoke-star-james-arness-dies-194732

[Townsend]

After starring in the title role as a thawed-out alien bent in eating humans in The Thing, he was spotted by John Wayne, who signed him to a contract with his production company, Batjac Prods. The actors worked together on such films as Big Jim McLain (1952), Island in the Sky (1953), Hondo (1953) and The Sea Chase (1955).

Wayne recommended Arness for the role of Marshal Dillon on Gunsmoke, which was coming to TV after beginning as a radio program in 1955.  (The show ran on radio until 1961, with the rotund William Conrad voicing the lawman.)

"Go ahead and take it, Jim," Wayne urged him. "You're too big for pictures. Guys like Gregory Peck and I don't want a big lug like you towering over us. Make your mark in television."

I knew about "The Thing" but how he got the Matt Dillon part was new and interesting to me.  I wish they'd elaborated.

[dbacks fan]

I knew about "The Thing" but how he got the Matt Dillon part was new and interesting to me.  I wish they'd elaborated.

There was a story about him on the radio today, and they were talking about how he was a reserved person, didn't do many interviews over the years. Not that he was a recluse, just not a public person.

Good night Marshal Dillon, we can take it from here.