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James Arness: An Autobiography

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James Arness, best known as Matt Dillon on television's longest running primetime drama, Gunsmoke (...), is described in TV Guide as a "recluse on a horseback" [1] and "the Greta Garbo of Dodge City" [2]. He is a man who wants to be left alone. After Gunsmoke soared in the ratings in the late 1950's and early 1960's, Arness walked of the set if a publicist or journalist appeared. At one point, he called the CBS brass together and said "I'll pay you to keep me out of the papers" [1]. Arness' history of secrecy and seclusion is what makes this a juicy book. What prompted him to come into the sunshine? Arness, who wrote his autobiography in his late seventies, says "[If] I was going to write a book about my life, I better do it now . `cause I'm not getting any younger" [3].

James Arness' account of his life is jam packed with fascinating facts and anecdotes but is largely devoid of personal insight, introspection, core belief assessment, and passion. Arness' privacy shell seems manifest in his writing. The book’s pros are correspondingly wooden. Beginning a biography summary of a fascinating personality with “James Arness was born May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis” would, at best, get a C in college. This, the first sentence of the paragraph used to summarize Arness’ book, is largely commensurate with the rest. There are, however, many interesting tidbits diehard Arness fans can glean from the plodding pros.

Some have opined that James Arness is Matt Dillon and Matt Dillon is James Arness. Comparison, however, is complicated. Matt Dillon is the type of man who would walk point on a patrol into World War II enemy territory and courageously take out a Nazi machine nest with a hand grenade. James Arness won a bronze star in WWII for doing this. Arness' limp which became more and more pronounced over the years is the result of a bullet from a Nazi machine gun splintering his leg bones during the Allied liberation of Anzio in 1944. For this, he received a purple heart. Unlike much of the rest of the book, Arness' account of his WWII experiences is riveting.

We learn Arness, as a lad, did many things we would expect from a Matt Dillon. He hopped trains in search of adventure, spent hours in athletic pursuits and, due largely to restlessness and lack of interest, performed marginally in school. A spirited Arness, at the age of 22, hitchhiked west to California to seek his fame and fortune. These are the actions of a Matt Dillon.

On the other hand, Matt Dillon would not join and enjoy a Glee Club and rank "Smoke Gets in You Eyes" as a favorite tune; Matt Dillon would not disruptively buzz his work place in his private plane just for fun; Matt Dillon would not become a beach bum infatuated with surfing; and Matt Dillon would not get a case of the giggles severe enough to halt a Gunsmoke work day. Giggles accompanied Arness everywhere. They got him fired from an early career announcing job. Ben Bates, James Arness' double on Gunsmoke and “How the West Was Won”, says James Arness laughs "from his toes to the top of his head when something strikes him as funny". Sometimes, "he just couldn't stop laughing". Giggling and uncontrollability are not characteristics of Matt Dillon.

Arness credits his career success to Providence. "I've been one of the luckiest men among the many who came to Hollywood seeking fame and fortune... [A] divine hand was guiding me along the way." His gifts of good looks, six and a half foot height, and natural acting skill resonated nicely with TV and movie producers.

After putting in long days perfecting cowboy skills in the early Gunsmokes [5], Arness became the preverbal 800 pound gorilla who, due to being indispensable to one of television's top rated shows, could do anything he wanted. Maybe James Arness was not Matt Dillon - but he became Gunsmoke. TV Guide reported "Early in the game, … [Arness] demanded and got a large chunk of the [Gunsmoke] production company, later the whole production company." When Arness tired of his ranch and couldn't sell it, CBS took it off his hands [6]. On the set, if Arness didn't like the way things were going, he did not hesitate to "direct the director" [1]. When Buck Taylor wanted a raise, he asked Arness' business agent who said "Let me talk to Jim about it". Arness threatened he didn't want to interrupt his Hawaii vacation plans and return early just to "raise Hell" with CBS". Buck Taylor got the raise. Despite - or maybe because of - Arness' domination of Gunsmoke, guest actors ranked Gunsmoke as one of the most professional and friendly sets in the industry, and, although he could be confrontational with the brass, James Arness as one of the most courteous and friendly stars in the industry [7].

Arness' autobiography frames Gunsmoke as the peak of his career. There were the John Wayne films before and "How the West Was Won" after, but neither had the impact of television's longest running primetime drama - a jaw dropping 20 years. James Arness is Gunsmoke and Gunsmoke is an icon. Dick Wolf of CBS's "Law and Order" television series admitted his driving motivation in television: "I want to beat Gunsmoke" [9]. Chances are he won't.

References
0. (...)
1. TV-Guide, April 6, 1968.
2. TV-Guide, December 10, 1966.
3. The National Enquirer, August 7, 2001.
4. TV-Guide, June 12, 1965.
5. Parade Magazine, April 3, 1960.
6. Australian TV-Guide, September 22, 1962.
7. SuzAnne, Gabor Barabas, Gunsmoke: A Completer History, McFarland & Co. (1990).
8. Robert Metz, CBS-Reflections in a Bloodshot Eye, (Playboy Press, Chicago, 1975).
9. Gail Shister, ’Law & Order' Chases 'Gunsmoke', Knight Ridder Newspapers, July 2001.

I was stunned at how this book described the details of James Arness in great detail -- yet it sounded like Matt Dillon himself. I certainly got the impression that, other than all the fights and gun-fights, James Arness and the role he played, Matt Dillon, are nearly identical people.

Jim does not blow a lot of wind or brag a bit. This book is addressed directly to you, as if you were sitting in a rocking chair in the same room as Jim and were conversing. He approaches self-deprecation in many areas, but this still-alive actor invites you into his life, and the lives of the co-stars, like Miss Kitty, Newly, Doc, and last but certainly not least -- Festus (a name from the Bible, I learned from the book).

The book is not too long or short and is filled with pictures of his activities on and off stage. You also get a glimpse into some of the other actors.

How many war heroes do you know who never mention it. Right -- very few! Because of his height (6'7"), he was ordered off the landing craft first in the landing at battle of Anzio during World War II. All too often, a soldier would step into weighted-down oblivion and drown. Due to Jim's height, he was selected to go first. Later in the campaign, he received a rifle wound to his leg that is beginning to act up as Marshal Dillon matures.;-)

This is a book that you want to read, and, if you have children, have them read, or read it to them if they are young.His series remains on a twice-daily broadcast on TV LAND.

Jim and his brother lied a charmed life, and anyone can take something from this wonderful autobiography. I also strongly recommend his web site -- http://www.jamesarness.com .

For years, I watched James Arness on Gunsmoke, respecting and admiring what he stood for both on the show and in real life. He endured great pain from his war wound in the later years of Gunsmoke, but he gutted it out, continuing to preserve law and order.

Arness did an excellent job of summarizing a crowded career in a minimal amount of pages. The book could just as easily have been 400 pages on Gunsmoke alone.

Even though he is a very private man, the book reveals a good deal of his personal side - his love for surfing, flying and practical jokes. As serious as his character of Matt Dillon was, I found it astounding that Arness was constantly cracking everybody up with his joking, laughing and buzzing the Gunsmoke set in his airplanes. Yet, at the same time, we see, through comments of those who knew him and the fans who have written to him, the commanding presence he had as a role model, being an icon second only to John Wayne.

As is Marshall Dillon, James Arness is a man of few words, but when he talked, people listened. But it wasn't to stroke his own ego. He did it to help the new generation along, passing on this gift because he had been so blessed with fame and fortune in his life.

We see Arness go from a rambling childhood where he hitchhiked on trains across country and didn't care about school to a man who was known worldwide and respected for his character both on and off screen. He was Matt Dillon through and through, upholding the law and doing it without a bunch of fanfare and bravado. He simply was doing his job and moving on.

What was really impressive was the superstars of today who got early starts as guests on Gunsmoke. The list was incredible. The show was definitely a launching pad for many people with Morgan Woodward leading the way with 19 appearances.

With this book, James Arness has left his legacy, answering a lot of questions people have about him, yet doing it while maintaining a lot of privacy. A true masterpiece from a man who is indeed an American icon.

I bought my book from the Autry Museum and it came with a dedication to me and James Arness' autograph. I grew up, like many others, watching him on Gunsmoke and loved the four characters and their interaction to each other. It is a show which will not be duplicated again. The interesting thing is that, because Matt Dillon was so straightforward and a 'man of a few words', critics said that James Arness was not that good an actor, it seemed like a simple role for him. Reading his book and watching him on Biography says different, because James Arness is not even remotely like Matt Dillon. He played the character with a great deal of talent. Gunsmoke, again, was a great show and I'm glad I grew up with it. Wish we could get some Gunsmoke shows in Canada, but I never was able to get memorabilia as a kid and nowadays, it is no different. Oh well!

As children, many of us admired the character. As adults, many of us can appreciate the man. It is once more time for heroes. I enjoyed reading about this one so much.

JAMES ARNESS, is perhaps the finest example of what can happen when a person of quality is allowed to create and shape his acting with the best values that have made America. This book gives us insight into one of the most important personalities of media history. It is a must for any one who wants to understand a generation, who wants to be successful, and who cares about what is important in life.
Perhaps, more than ever, in this time of crisis we need to re-look at our heros of which James Arness is one of the best examples. He has imbedded himself in our vision of what is right, what is good. Gunsmoke was not just a show of good writers, but it was an example of good people. People of values who came into focus, story by story around Matt Dillon, the essence of rightness and justice.
The present, we Americans owe James Arness a debt of gratitude. For anyone who wants to put IT in perspective, this is a must read book....

I was so glad to discover the story behind the man who is one of my favorite childhood heroes. 'Matt Dillon' had a considerable influence in shaping the values I hold. The moral gems scattered throughout his long-running show, Gunsmoke, still influence many a fan, even today. While it is clear from reading this book that James Arness is quite similar to his beloved character, there is also much more to him than Matthew Dillon. I wish TV programming today created shows as valuable as 'Gunsmoke'. However, thanks to the TV Land Network, new generations can watch reruns of what I think is one of the best TV dramas ever produced. It was interesting to find out that two passions of 'Matt Dillon' are surfing and flying. Jim is a private man and he loves his family dearly. I do wish he had revealed more about the belief systems that empower him and how his life experiences have influenced those beliefs. At any rate, It seemed like I was having a converstion with the man and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You will too!

What an interesting life James Arness has had. His account of his experience landing at Anzio in 1944 was the best account I've seen or heard because he was a private and first out expecting not to survive. His experiences during training and up to when he was wounded were so interesting. and his care afterword also. Being a lifelong Gunsmoke fan I found this book full of exciting, interesting facts and had to re-read it immediately as the first time I was up all night reading it and was tired and thought I might have missed some facts. The second reading was even better. Mr Arness's book could have been two or three times as long. I feel he could add lots more.
Maybe he'll write a sequel. I'd buy it in an instant.

As a longtime fan of James Arness, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've had a crush on him since I played with Barbie dolls and Silly Putty, and his book gave me the opportunity to learn more about this grateful, humble, private man. I would have enjoyed a little more about his Gunsmoke years, though. Especially since he's said to be such a cut-up and prankster. But his autobiography is filled with nice photos, fan letters and lots of special memories. I was also pleasantly surprised that he'd saved so many gifts and mementos sent to him by fans. It's gratifying to know that this big man--a hero to so many--is also very real and sentimental. I look forward to his next book.

Since the day the program debuted in 1955 through the next 20 years, I was a fan of Gunsmoke and tried never to miss an episode. Even today, if I can catch a rerun on cable, I always tune in. I consider it the best TV show ever. So, I was very interested in reading this autobiography of the actor who created Marshall Dillon. Unfortuantely, the book delivers in only a few areas. For a show that lasted a record 20 years, there are remarkably few anecdotes. It isn't until we get into Appendix A offering comments from actors on the show, that we realize why. James Arness was a loner. He didn't hang with the other actors. He came in, shot his scenes, then flew away. Further, he made it clear he wanted privacy and the other actors on the set respected that (or feared him) and stayed away. Appendix A, comments by regular actors on the show and crew, is roughly 25% of the book. It is followed by other appendices including comments by guest stars, fan letters, a filmography and an awards list, so we end up with a big chunk of the book containing self-serving material that added little except pages and flattering comments. The most interesting parts of the book describe Arness' life away from the set: his love of surfing, flying and his family. He only briefly touches on the two tragedies in his life: his divorce and his daughter's drug-induced death. Otherwise, it is all success and happiness. As he admits, he never went after anything, it all came to him. He had an almost picture perfect existance. There is one section of the book I would highly recommend, and that is his chapter on Anzio. It is extremely well written and transports the reader to a point where he feels he is there on the beach attacking with Jim. It is here where Jim is shot and the resulting injury got him back home and caused physical problems later in life. It was a fascinating interlude within an otherwise dull book. Now let me go see if Gunsmoke is on the tube anywhere.