James Arness

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, James Arness (1923-2011) speaks about his early years and experiences, which included serving in the army during World War II, and recalls his start in local radio in Minneapolis. He notes his break into acting in movies and lists several in which he appeared. He describes his experiences in early television, including anthology series that were done "live." He then speaks in great detail about the role for which he is best known, that of "Marshal Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke. For Gunsmoke, he talks about his initial reluctance to take the part (until he was convinced by John Wayne for whom he was under contract). Arness describes the series characters and their relationships with each other, and discusses working with the behind-the-scenes talent, including key producers and directors. He also talks about later television roles, including his appearance as a regular on the late 1970s western series How the West Was Won. B-roll consists of photos from his Hollywood years (including films The Farmer's Daughter and The Thing) and a still each of Arness in Gunsmoke and The McCahans. Henry Colman conducted the interview on August 16, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"If Matt Dillon had to shoot somebody, you'd cut around to him. You could see that he just hated to have to do that and he felt a sort of revulsion over it. That's something that hadn't really been done much up to that point."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
James Arness on playing the title character in the science fiction classic "The Thing" and on meeting John Wayne
04:44
James Arness on Dodge City, the setting of Gunsmoke
02:32
James Arness on CBS president William S. Paley's affinity for Gunsmoke
01:17
James Arness on Bette Davis guest starring on Gunsmoke
02:54
James Arness on Burt Reynolds as "Quint" on Gunsmoke
02:37
James Arness on the cancellation of Gunsmoke in 1975
02:04
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his experience with World War II; on his early interest in acting
On being cast in his first feature film "The Farmer's Daughter"; on playing the title character in the science fiction classic "The Thing" and on meeting John Wayne; on his first television appearance, playing William Tell on a Hallmark Hall of Fame live broadcast

Chapter 2

On appearing on Lux Video Theatre; on appearing on The Lone Ranger; on being cast as "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
On John Wayne introducing the first episode of Gunsmoke; on the concept of Gunsmoke, and on the production schedule of the show; on the character of "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
On the rules the writers set for his character "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke; on CBS president William S. Paley's affinity for Gunsmoke
On "Matt Dillon's" relationship with "Miss Kitty" played by Amanda Blake on Gunsmoke; on Dennis Weaver as "Chester" on Gunsmoke

Chapter 3

On making personal appearances with Dennis Weaver during the run of Gunsmoke; on Ken Curtis as "Festus" on Gunsmoke; on Milburn Stone as "Doc" on Gunsmoke
On Burt Reynolds as "Quint" on Gunsmoke; on Dodge City, the setting of Gunsmoke; on the various storylines of Gunsmoke, and on how his character changed over the years
On working with the behind-the-scenes staff of Gunsmoke; on hiring New York actors to appear on Gunsmoke

Chapter 4

On casting actors for Gunsmoke; on Gunsmoke expanding from a half-hour to an hour, and on how it impacted the storyline; on William S. Paley saving Gunsmoke from cancellation
On Bette Davis guest starring on Gunsmoke; on Gilbert Roland guest-starring on Gunsmoke; on Fran Ryan guest-starring on Gunsmoke
On favorite Gunsmoke storylines; on the cancellation of Gunsmoke in 1975; on starring on How the West Was Won

Chapter 5

On his favorite episode of How the West Was Won, and on the casting of the show; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on starring in McClain's Law
On doing several Gunsmoke reunion movies; on career achievements and regrets; on the legacy of Gunsmoke
On how the industry has changed since he started; on advice to an aspiring actor and on his autobiography; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows

Gunsmoke

View Show Page
James Arness on being cast as "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
04:17
James Arness on John Wayne introducing the first episode of Gunsmoke
01:23
James Arness on the concept of Gunsmoke, and on the production schedule of the show
05:25
James Arness on the character of "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
03:20
James Arness on the rules the writers set for his character "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
02:56
James Arness on CBS president William S. Paley's affinity for Gunsmoke
01:17
James Arness on "Matt Dillon's" relationship with "Miss Kitty" played by Amanda Blake on Gunsmoke
03:22
James Arness on Dennis Weaver as "Chester" on Gunsmoke
03:08
James Arness on making personal appearances with Dennis Weaver during the run of Gunsmoke
03:21
James Arness on Ken Curtis as "Festus" on Gunsmoke
02:41
James Arness on Milburn Stone as "Doc" on Gunsmoke
04:54
James Arness on Burt Reynolds as "Quint" on Gunsmoke
02:37
James Arness on Dodge City, the setting of Gunsmoke
02:33
James Arness on the various storylines of Gunsmoke, and on how his character changed over the years
03:16
James Arness on working with the behind-the-scenes staff of Gunsmoke
08:24
James Arness on hiring New York actors to appear on Gunsmoke
02:52
James Arness on casting actors for Gunsmoke
02:23
James Arness on Gunsmoke expanding from a half-hour to an hour, and on how it impacted the storyline
02:46
James Arness on William S. Paley saving Gunsmoke from cancellation
02:31
James Arness on Bette Davis guest-starring on Gunsmoke
02:54
James Arness on Gilbert Roland guest-starring on Gunsmoke
01:12
James Arness on Fran Ryan guest-starring on Gunsmoke
01:09
James Arness on favorite Gunsmoke storylines
08:28
James Arness on the cancellation of Gunsmoke in 1975
02:04
James Arness on doing several Gunsmoke reunion movies
02:11
James Arness on the legacy of Gunsmoke
01:53

Hallmark Hall of Fame

View Show Page
James Arness on his first television appearance, playing William Tell on a Hallmark Hall of Fame live broadcast
01:32

How the West was Won

View Show Page
James Arness on starring on How the West was Won
07:14
James Arness on his favorite episode of How the West Was Won, and on the casting of the show
04:54

Lone Ranger, The

View Show Page
James Arness on appearing on The Lone Ranger
01:44

Lux Video Theatre

View Show Page
James Arness on appearing on Lux Video Theatre
02:13

McClain's Law

View Show Page
James Arness on starring in McClain's Law
04:32
Topics

Advice

View Topic
James Arness on advice to an aspiring actor
00:49

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
James Arness on the character of "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
03:20

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
James Arness on having a mentor and being a mentor
01:04

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
James Arness on his experience with World War II
03:13

Hollywood Blacklist

View Topic
James Arness on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:50

Industry Crossroads

View Topic
James Arness on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:50

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
James Arness on having a mentor and being a mentor
01:04

Pop Culture

View Topic
James Arness on the character of "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
03:20

Television Industry

View Topic
James Arness on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:50
James Arness on how the industry has changed since he started
03:05
James Arness on advice to an aspiring actor
00:49

War

View Topic
James Arness on his experience with World War II
03:13

World War II

View Topic
James Arness on his experience with World War II
03:13
Professions

Actor

View Profession
James Arness on advice to an aspiring actor
00:49

Performers

View Profession
James Arness on advice to an aspiring actor
00:49
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
James Arness on his first television appearance, playing "William Tell" on a Hallmark Hall of Fame live broadcast
01:38

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
James Arness on starring in McClain's Law
04:32

Western Series

View Genre
James Arness on the concept of Gunsmoke as the first TV Western geared more to adults than children, and on the process of filming an episode 
03:14
James Arness on actor Milburn Stone, who played "Doc" on Gunsmoke, who was very important in setting the tone of the show, as he had grown up in a western town; on the character of Matt Dillon
02:42
James Arness on the amount of violence on Gunsmoke
01:42
James Arness on playing "Marshall Matt Dillon" on Gunsmoke
30:42
James Arness on How the West Was Won
04:54
James Arness on doing several Gunsmoke reunion movies
07:23
People

Amanda Blake

View Person Page
James Arness on "Matt Dillon's" relationship with "Miss Kitty" played by Amanda Blake on Gunsmoke
03:22

Bette Davis

View Person Page
James Arness on Bette Davis guest starring on Gunsmoke
02:54

William S. Paley

View Person Page
James Arness on CBS president William S. Paley's affinity for Gunsmoke
01:17
James Arness on William S. Paley saving Gunsmoke from cancellation
02:31

Burt Reynolds

View Person Page
James Arness on Burt Reynolds as "Quint" on Gunsmoke
02:36

Milburn Stone

View Person Page
James Arness on Milburn Stone as "Doc" on Gunsmoke
04:54

John Wayne

View Person Page
James Arness on John Wayne introducing the first episode of Gunsmoke
01:23

Dennis Weaver

View Interview Page
James Arness on Dennis Weaver as "Chester" on Gunsmoke
03:08

All Interviews

S