James Arness – His Autobiography

An Autobiography written by a man who was loved by many. Arness was an American Hero and an American Heartthrob.

James King Arness, died today (June 03, 2011) at age 88 from what were termed natural causes, he was a legend from the beginning to the end. I would encourage you to read his book James Arness – An Autobiography. His death marks an end of an era. He was a man well respected and loved and today the world mourns his death.

Born James King Arness on May 26, 1923, a shy boy who grew up in the depression had aspirations of being a navy pilot. However, he was disqualified because of his height – he was too tall. So instead he joined the United States Army where he earned a Bronze Star and was awarded the Purple Heart.

Although his height hindered him from becoming a navy pilot it caught the eye of producers and a few years later helped to earn him the leading role on the CBS’s show Gunsmoke in which Arness played the role of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon of Dodge City.

Arness had a long run on Gunsmoke, and a role in the highly popular television miniseries, How The West Was Won.

This book is a wonderful piece of history and a book Arness wrote when he was in his late seventies. Known as a man of seclusion he opened up in his book sharing his life both on and off screen. When asked why he had waited so long to write a book he was quoted as saying, “If I was going to write a book about my life, I better do it now `cause I’m not getting any younger

The world mourns the death of James King Arness May 26, 1923 ‘” June 03, 2011. A remarkable man and an amazing Actor that the world will never forget, may he rest in peace.