Talk:James Arness

Untitled
I have always wondered why doc Adams office was upstairs why didn’t they just move it downstairs that would be so much easier taking care of all the sick people and dead people and shot people. I’m wondering if anyone else has wondered? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.185.84.18 (talk) 21:07, 18 October 2023 (UTC)


 * I've wondered the exact same thing. Also wondered why Chester never got his leg fixed. It got tiresome watching him hobble around for so long.  2600:8801:298D:D700:149F:183D:D5E2:8427 (talk) 10:57, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

Tallest actor?
He was the tallest actor ever to play a lead role, standing 6 feet 7 inches.

The reference cited for this does not mention his height. Also, this is a very vague statement. The tallest actor ever? Has there never been a taller actor appear as the lead in a community theater? What about the tallest actor ever to have the lead role in a commercial? Shaquille O'Neal is taller (at 7'1"), and has appeared as the lead in the movie Steel. I think this statement needs to be both qualified for what he was the tallest as (the tallest ever with a lead role on US Network television, maybe?), and with a citable reference to prove that he was the tallest. --66.69.248.6 (talk) 15:58, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Arness has usually described himself as being 6'6". (92.8.137.253 (talk) 16:02, 22 October 2009 (UTC))

I removed this from the article. As the original commenter notes, this claim does not even appear in the cited source. And the cited source is hardly reliable. James Arness was the tallest actor ever to play a lead role, standing 2 metres (6'6" or 6'7" inches) . Georghe Muresan was also the lead in My Giant. --Rajah (talk) 03:04, 15 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Concur that the source did NOT say what was referenced. Arness' published biography, online 'biography' and interviews do however mention his height. Apparently he does usually say 6' 6" when 6' 7"(≈2.1 metres) is seemingly correct. I have worked his stature into the article as he says it is the main reason he was not able to become a navy pilot, he was 5" too tall! Thus he went into the infantry. --220.101.28.25 (talk) 13:26, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

Height... I see his height mostly quoted at 6ft 7inches, and this is what his bio says on his web site... I also see a few notes that say things like "— Arness bio states he had 6 feet 7 inches tall. But Arness usually stated that his height was 6 feet 6 inches in the ...". I suspect that he was once 6ft 7 inches, but like most humans, after he reached age 35 or so he became shorter...*shrug* in any event, absent a better source than "he usually said", I can't see rejecting the vast bulk of published material that says 6' 7". Shajure (talk) 23:27, 7 March 2022 (UTC)

Expansion & references
It seems a poor showing that an actor as well known as James Arness had so little real information about him. And was so poorly referenced. I have referenced a lot of statements and added some text, but there is a lot more to find. The secion on his war service had been removed by a vandal 3 week ago, so I have restored & added to it.

Is is a little hard to find good sources, as there are a lot of blogs which have information that is unsourced ie IMDB.

Family

 * james-arness genealogy Accesssed March 15, 2010 www.genealogy.com - Reliable??
 * Children "three sons and three grandchildren". (Web bio) But apparently he had a daughter (with 1st wife Virginia Chapman)

Jenny Lee Arness born 23 May 1950 who result of a drug overdose(Suicide?? per findagrave) on 12 May 1975, Malibu, California,

Julie Kovacs (May 31, 2009) DOT com/people/hollywood-celebrities-and-the-deaths-of-their-children/ Hollywood Celebrities and The Deaths of Their Children People Accesssed March 15, 2010

Find-a-Grave Jenny Lee Arness findagrave Accesssed March 15, 2010, nb. Grave is marked as Aurness not Arness.

Sons 3?
 * Craig Aurness
 * Rolf Aurness ( Born. February 18, 1952) World Surfing Champion (1970)!! "Rolf Aurness @ surfline 'dot' com" Surf Line Accesssed March 15, 2010
 * Wives 2 of,
 * Virginia Chapman: Actress late 1940 to ≈1960?
 * Janet Surtrees:                            wife 1978- current
 * Wedding dates ?
 * Wedding dates ?

IMDB Janet Surtrees (16 December 1978 - present) Virginia Chapman (12 February 1948 - 1960)

IMDB says "Ten days after the invasion, Arness was severely wounded in the leg and foot by German machine-gun fire. His wounds, which plagued him the rest of his life, resulted in his medical discharge from the army" He was wounded, details to be confirmed.
 * We know Rolf's mother was Arness' ex-wife Virginia Chapman, but who are the mother(s) of Arness' son Craig and the other son whose name we don't know? Jim Michael (talk) 17:19, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

James Arness was the father or stepfather of four kids -

1. Craig Aurness was Virginia's son from her first marriage, and Jim adopted him when he and Virginia married. Craig died in 2004. 2. Jenny (sometimes Jennie) Lee Aurness - Jim and Virginia's daughter. She committed suicide in 1975. 3. Rolf Aurness - Jim and Virginia's son, who is still living. 4. Jim Surtees - the son of his second wife, Janet. Jim Arness was his stepfather, but never adopted him legally.108.15.156.193 (talk) 22:33, 16 July 2011 (UTC)
 * Craig Michael Aurness was my employer and was born November 20, 1946. But don't just take my word for it; look here[] and here[]. Richard K. Carson (talk) 02:39, 21 August 2012 (UTC)

There is absolutely no source for Jim & Janet's alleged separation or the quote attributed to him. The source listed barely even mentions Janet - it's more about his career. The allusion should be removed. Sdacj (talk) 00:38, 24 May 2014 (UTC)
 * I looked at the source listed and you're right, there is no mention of any separation. I looked at when it was added and by whom, and it was after he passed away in a flurry on anon IP edits. It stayed in the article, but I have now removed it. Dave Dial (talk) 01:05, 24 May 2014 (UTC)

Medals
The only medal that is referenced is the "Purple Heart", and that is from Arness' bios. The "World War II Victory Medal", "Combat Infantryman Badge" seem standard for most soldiers? But still need references as does the "European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal", "awarded for any service performed between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946 provided such service was performed in the geographical theater areas of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East".
 * The "Bronze Star Medal" most definitely, "may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. When awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award ".--220.101.28.25 (talk) 15:47, 15 March 2010 (UTC)
 * The Combat Infantryman Badge is most certainly NOT "standard for most soldiers". Most soldiers in combat zones are not infantry - a great deal of support is required.  To earn the CIB, one must be in an infantry military occupational specialty.  MPs, armor, artillery, military intelligence, medics, combat engineers, transportation, aviation, finance, etc. do not qualify (they may earn the Combat Action Badge, instituted 03 Jun 2005).  CIB criteria from http://www.army.mil/symbols/CombatBadges/infantry.html):
 * Awarded to personnel in the grade of Colonel or below with an infantry or special forces military occupational specialty who have satisfactorily performed duty while assigned as a member of an infantry/special forces unit, brigade or smaller size, during any period subsequent to 6 December 1941 when the unit was engaged in active ground combat. The policy was expanded to permit award to Command Sergeants Major of infantry battalions or brigades, effective 1 December 1967. Specific criteria for each conflict was also established. Only one award is authorized for service in Vietnam, Laos, the Dominican Republic, Korea (subsequent to 4 January 1969), El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, the Southwest Asia and Somalia, regardless of whether an individual has served in one or more of these areas. The complete criteria for each area and inclusive dates are listed in Army Regulation 600-8-22. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.64.0.252 (talk) 16:43, 14 October 2011 (UTC)
 * He should have been ashamed as a European-American to fight against the homeland of his forefathers! He should have pleaded for conscnetious objection and not take part in that horrible war. Or at least, he could have fought in the Pacific against the Japanese. 93.219.137.248 (talk) 15:49, 28 March 2013 (UTC)

Filmography
This data needs to be integrated into the article as it's coverage of Areness work is currently meagre., though overall article is better than it was few days ago. Source for all James Arness Filmography jamesarness.com Accessed 16 March 2010

Gunsmoke
The longest running dramatic series ever produced. 1955 - 1975

Films
The Farmer's Daughter 1947 Man From Texas 1947 Roses Are Red 1947 -Battleground 1949 Wagonmaster 1950 Sierra 1950 Two Lost Worlds 1950 Double Crossbones 1950 Stars In My Crown 1950 Wyoming Mail 1950 Calvary Scout 1951 Belle le Grand 1951 Iron Man 1951 The People Against O'Hara 1951 Carbine Williams 1952 Hellgate 1952 The Girl In White 1952 Big Jim McLain 1952 Horizons West 1952 Lone Hand 1953 Ride The Man Down 1953 Island In The Sky 1953 Veils of Bagdad 1953 Hondo 1954 Her Twelve Men 1954 Flames of the Islands 1955 Many Rivers to Cross 1955 The Sea Chase 1955 Arizona Mission 1956 Gun The Man Down 1956 The First Traveling Saleslady 1956
 * The Thing 1951 Science Fiction
 * Them 1954 Science Fiction

Television
The Lone Ranger 1950 -Lux Video Theatre "The Chase" 1954 Front Row Center 1956 -The Red Skelton Chevy Special 1959 -The Chevrolet Golden Anniversery Show 1961 -A Salute to Television's 25th Anniversary 1972 The Macahans 1976 How The West Was Won 1976 - 1979 The Alamo: 13 Days to Glory 1987 Red River 1988 --220.101.28.25 (talk) 16:06, 16 March 2010 (UTC) ✅ All entered --220.101.28.25 (talk) 19:22, 17 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge 1987
 * Gunsmoke II: The Last Apache 1990
 * Gunsmoke III: To The Last Man 1992
 * Gunsmoke IV: The Long Ride 1993
 * Gunsmoke V: One Man's Justice 1993

Shouldn't we include the Gunsmoke series in this section? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.104.96.244 (talk) 03:28, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

References 2
http://www.fandango.com/jamesarness/biographies/p2331 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.101.28.25 (talk) 20:25, 17 March 2010 (UTC)

Charitable works
Seems to have a bit here in the reference, probably worthy of a section. Feel free to do it. Recall something about donating a custom built boat? --220.101.28.25 (talk) 21:20, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

James Arness made a promotional video for the United States Marshals Service entitled America's Star which was very well received. It was used for the national museum; recruiting and general showing. (Rabby Tat (talk) 05:01, 4 June 2011 (UTC))

Encounter
While a student at California State Polytechnic College (it became a University) at San Luis Obispo, I used to ride out to Pozo. Pozo was a rustic little town nearby. In the 1970s James Arness flew a single engine airplane, and landed it in a "cow pasture" nearby to Pozo. I talked to Mr. Arness several times; he contemplated buying the Pozo Saloon, a place that could have been cast as the Long Branch Saloon, but he never did. James Arness was a licensed pilot. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.222.41.188 (talk • contribs) 22:03, 3 June 2011 (UTC) (Comment transferred here from article by Quicksilver)

Is it poetry (talk) 18:17, 25 October 2015 (UTC)is it poetry- Google is it poetry

Assessment comment
Substituted at 19:23, 29 April 2016 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by JJMC89 bot (talk • contribs)

Military Service and Wounds
So, there's no mention of how he got wounded other than:

Because of his height, he was the first ordered off his landing craft to determine the depth of the water; it came up to his waist.[5]

Arness was sent to the U.S Army 91st General Hospital at Clinton, Iowa, to be treated.

So was sent from Italy to Iowa for treatment because the water came up to his waist :) I'm not sure of what's missing here but something should fill in that gap... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 45.56.50.103 (talk) 18:57, 13 October 2016 (UTC)

Military Serrvice
"Arness was sent to the U.S Army 91st General Hospital at Clinton, Iowa, to be treated."

For what? Beetfarm Louie (talk) 06:53, 28 January 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
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Pink Floyd Album
Someone should work in the fact that Arness' portrayal as Matt Dillon appeared on the Pink Floyd album, "The Wall", in the song "Is There Anybody Out There?". Jameywiki (talk) 20:42, 27 October 2018 (UTC)

Article contradicts itself
The section Early life begins as follows:

"Aurness was born in Minneapolis on May 26, 1923; he dropped the "u" in his last name when he started acting. His parents were businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler. His father's ancestry was Norwegian; his mother's was German. The family name had been Aurness, but when Rolf's father, Peter Aurness, emigrated from Norway in 1887, he changed it to Arness."

Either James Arness dropped the U from his name when he started acting, or his grandfather dropped the U when he emigrated from Norway. Which was it? (Or did James Arness's father change the name back to "Aurness"? If so, that is not mentioned.) 2601:200:C000:1A0:341D:94F5:70CE:45EA (talk) 17:49, 7 April 2021 (UTC)


 * The original language had been vandalized. I replaced the language with the original language that resolves the conflict. Kaltenmeyer (talk)

Date of birth
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Variety_International_Show_Business_Refe/i_RLAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=james+arness++%22may+26+1923%22&dq=james+arness++%22may+26+1923%22&printsec=frontcover was removed (it did not work well and did not show the date), but I see no source for DOB on quick review. Do we have one? If so, it should be in the body, not in the lead. Shajure (talk) 21:18, 12 October 2022 (UTC)