'Gunsmoke' Actor Dies

James Arness, a Western star best known for his role as Marshal Matt Dillon on the hit TV series Gunsmoke, has died. He was 88.

He died Friday of natural causes at his Brentwood mansion.

Arness left a message for fans on his website.

“I had a wonderful life and was blessed with (so) many loving people and great friends. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet,” he wrote. “Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is.”

“I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of.”

A Minnesota native, Arness earned a Purple Heart while serving in the Army during World War II.

After his stint in the Army, the actor made his way west to California to launch his film career in the 1947 classic The Farmer’s Daughter.

Arness quickly landed small roles in a series of movies such as The Thing, Island in the Sky, Hondo and Big Jim McClain. He even made a single appearance on the television show The Lone Ranger in 1950.

However, it was Gunsmoke that made Arness famous and sealed his status as a Hollywood legend. One of the longest running shows in television history, Gunsmoke held audiences captive from 1955 to 1975.

Arness went on to appear in the miniseries How the West Was Won and star in the television show McClain's Law.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; sons Rolf and Jimmy; and six grandchildren. His brother, Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves, died last year.