RIP Marshal Dillon

cactusjack · 06-03-2011, 02:46 PM

James Arness, the 6'6" actor who towered over Dodge City for two decades as Marshal Matt Dillon in the tv series 'Gunsmoke', has passed away at the age of 88.

Yellow Jacket · 06-03-2011, 03:05 PM

Another icon of my youth is gone.
Rest in peach, James.

oldbikers · 06-03-2011, 03:36 PM

Bob it is beginning to look like we older folks aren't going to have any of our hero's much longer.

**Cajunrider** · 06-03-2011, 03:37 PM

Hate to hear that. He was a legend and a hero to many of us growing up. He threw one heck of a right cross.

Bull Durham · 06-03-2011, 03:58 PM

Yeah, he was always fun to watch. Always read he was a very nice man, down to earth.

AlabamaNomadRider · 06-03-2011, 05:40 PM

A true hero. Rest in peace Mr. Arness

Here is a story from AOL.

James Arness, a bigger-than-life actor who kept the peace as Marshal Matt Dillon on 'Gunsmoke' for its 20-year run, died Friday of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, Calif., his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was 88.

'Gunsmoke' debuted on CBS in 1955 and ran until 1975, in the process making Arness one of the more enduring stars on television and the Matt Dillon character one of its most beloved and trusted.

The 6 foot 7 Arness towered over the cast, including Dillon's deputy, Chester, played by Dennis Weaver. Other supporting stars included Amanda Blake as Kitty and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams.

By the time Arness got the part of Dillon, he had been a WWII combat veteran and appeared in several films, most notably the science-fiction classics 'Them!' and 'The Thing From Another World,' in which he played an alien.

The Minneapolis native's younger brother, actor Peter Graves, who died last October, encouraged him to get into acting. He cut his Western teeth in four John Wayne film, including 'Hondo' and 'Big Jim McLain.'

It was Wayne that recommended Arness for 'Gunsmoke' and an on-air endorsement from the film great himself. "I knew there was only one man to play in it, James Arness," Wayne told viewers (watch video below). "He's a young fella and may be new to some of you. But I've worked with him, and I predict he'll be a big star. So you might as well get used to him, like you've had to get used to me."

The role of Marshal Dillon proved a complex one and became a focus of the show, but Arness is said to have pushed producers to move the focus off him and onto the large ensemble cast.

When 'Gunsmoke' ended in 1975, appeared a string of TV shows including the miniseries 'How The West Was Won' and in the early 1980s, turned leading man again in cop drama 'McClain's Law.'

He brought Matt Dillon back for five 'Gunsmoke' movies starting in 1987's 'Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge.'

Arness is survived by his wife, Janet, two sons and six grandchildren.

Loafer · 06-03-2011, 07:27 PM

He was part of our family every week. Prayers for the big man and his family.

**ringadingh** · 06-03-2011, 07:45 PM

I read that earlier today, RIP

unwind2 · 06-04-2011, 10:04 AM

I can hear Chester saying 'Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon' as he came walking up to the Marshall's office limping. Bet he kept a stick or something in that pant leg to make him walk like that. Memories.
RIP Mr. Arness.

**Cajunrider** · 06-04-2011, 10:33 AM

9 pm CST every Saturday night. I still watch the old shows on Saturday afternoons. I think the only one still living is Newley O'Brien. The rest died off in the last 10 to 30 years. Amanda Blake died several years ago from complications of AIDS. She contracted HIV from a tainted blood transfusion, according to her life story.

unwind2 · 06-04-2011, 02:30 PM

Wow heres an old pic on photobuck with Burt Reynolds in it....

NRiderUSA · 06-04-2011, 05:06 PM

Seems like all the heros and the values they taught us as we grew up with are dying.... times change.

Bull Durham · 06-04-2011, 07:50 PM

If I remember correctly, Burt Reynolds was the Blacksmith, and was fired from the show after two seasons. Read a story once that the same day Burt was fired, Clint Eastwood was fired from what, Big Valley? Anyway, can't remember why Burt was fired, but Clint was fired because they thought he talked to slow and had a big Adams apple.

They were both told they would never make it or amount to anything in Hollywood.......

**Cajunrider** · 06-04-2011, 08:30 PM

Burt was the blacksmith who went by "Quinten". His character was native american. You're right, he didn't last very long.

cajun2wheels · 06-04-2011, 11:42 PM

Many folks didn't know Doc and Miss Kitty was married in real life.

06-03-2011, 02:46 PM	#1
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	RIP Marshal Dillon James Arness, the 6'6" actor who towered over Dodge City for two decades as Marshal Matt Dillon in the tv series 'Gunsmoke', has passed away at the age of 88. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-03-2011, 03:05 PM	#2
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	RIP Marshal Dillon Another icon of my youth is gone. Rest in peach, James. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
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06-03-2011, 03:36 PM	#3
oldbikers Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sardis Mississippi Posts: 3,513	RIP Marshal Dillon Bob it is beginning to look like we older folks aren't going to have any of our hero's much longer. __________________ Jim Hardin Sardis MS Kawanow # 453 Proud PGR member
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06-03-2011, 03:37 PM	#4
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	RIP Marshal Dillon Hate to hear that. He was a legend and a hero to many of us growing up. He threw one heck of a right cross. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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06-03-2011, 03:58 PM	#5
Bull Durham Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA area Posts: 785	RIP Marshal Dillon Yeah, he was always fun to watch. Always read he was a very nice man, down to earth. __________________ 2005 Kawasaki Nomad VBA #1608 KZR #25622 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-03-2011, 05:40 PM	#6
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	RIP Marshal Dillon A true hero. Rest in peace Mr. Arness Here is a story from AOL. James Arness, a bigger-than-life actor who kept the peace as Marshal Matt Dillon on 'Gunsmoke' for its 20-year run, died Friday of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, Calif., his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was 88. 'Gunsmoke' debuted on CBS in 1955 and ran until 1975, in the process making Arness one of the more enduring stars on television and the Matt Dillon character one of its most beloved and trusted. The 6 foot 7 Arness towered over the cast, including Dillon's deputy, Chester, played by Dennis Weaver. Other supporting stars included Amanda Blake as Kitty and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams. By the time Arness got the part of Dillon, he had been a WWII combat veteran and appeared in several films, most notably the science-fiction classics 'Them!' and 'The Thing From Another World,' in which he played an alien. The Minneapolis native's younger brother, actor Peter Graves, who died last October, encouraged him to get into acting. He cut his Western teeth in four John Wayne film, including 'Hondo' and 'Big Jim McLain.' It was Wayne that recommended Arness for 'Gunsmoke' and an on-air endorsement from the film great himself. "I knew there was only one man to play in it, James Arness," Wayne told viewers (watch video below). "He's a young fella and may be new to some of you. But I've worked with him, and I predict he'll be a big star. So you might as well get used to him, like you've had to get used to me." The role of Marshal Dillon proved a complex one and became a focus of the show, but Arness is said to have pushed producers to move the focus off him and onto the large ensemble cast. When 'Gunsmoke' ended in 1975, appeared a string of TV shows including the miniseries 'How The West Was Won' and in the early 1980s, turned leading man again in cop drama 'McClain's Law.' He brought Matt Dillon back for five 'Gunsmoke' movies starting in 1987's 'Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge.' Arness is survived by his wife, Janet, two sons and six grandchildren. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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06-03-2011, 07:27 PM	#7
Loafer Sr. Contributor Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 18,287	RIP Marshal Dillon He was part of our family every week. Prayers for the big man and his family. __________________ Gerry Martineau / 802 VT / VBA #0892 /[email]glmjgm@gmail.com[email]
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06-03-2011, 07:45 PM	#8
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	RIP Marshal Dillon I read that earlier today, RIP __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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06-04-2011, 10:04 AM	#9
unwind2 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dyersburg TN Posts: 2,858	RIP Marshal Dillon I can hear Chester saying 'Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon' as he came walking up to the Marshall's office limping. Bet he kept a stick or something in that pant leg to make him walk like that. Memories. RIP Mr. Arness. __________________ Nancy '05 Nomad Blue/Silver Kawanow Member #23 Hubbie-Ken '10 Metalic Black Goldwing
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06-04-2011, 10:33 AM	#10
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	RIP Marshal Dillon 9 pm CST every Saturday night. I still watch the old shows on Saturday afternoons. I think the only one still living is Newley O'Brien. The rest died off in the last 10 to 30 years. Amanda Blake died several years ago from complications of AIDS. She contracted HIV from a tainted blood transfusion, according to her life story. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
	0

06-04-2011, 02:30 PM	#11
unwind2 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dyersburg TN Posts: 2,858	RIP Marshal Dillon Wow heres an old pic on photobuck with Burt Reynolds in it.... __________________ Nancy '05 Nomad Blue/Silver Kawanow Member #23 Hubbie-Ken '10 Metalic Black Goldwing
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06-04-2011, 05:06 PM	#12
NRiderUSA Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,781	RIP Marshal Dillon Seems like all the heros and the values they taught us as we grew up with are dying.... times change. __________________ NRiderUSA "Rick" "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." 1946 George Orwell
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06-04-2011, 07:50 PM	#13
Bull Durham Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA area Posts: 785	RIP Marshal Dillon If I remember correctly, Burt Reynolds was the Blacksmith, and was fired from the show after two seasons. Read a story once that the same day Burt was fired, Clint Eastwood was fired from what, Big Valley? Anyway, can't remember why Burt was fired, but Clint was fired because they thought he talked to slow and had a big Adams apple. They were both told they would never make it or amount to anything in Hollywood....... __________________ 2005 Kawasaki Nomad VBA #1608 KZR #25622
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06-04-2011, 08:30 PM	#14
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	RIP Marshal Dillon Burt was the blacksmith who went by "Quinten". His character was native american. You're right, he didn't last very long. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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06-04-2011, 11:42 PM	#15
cajun2wheels Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria La. Posts: 636	RIP Marshal Dillon Many folks didn't know Doc and Miss Kitty was married in real life. __________________
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