James Arness, who chaired the frontier town of Dodge City, the most enduring heroes of television in the West, the laconic, impartial and incorruptible Marshal Matt Dillon of two decades of the series "Gunsmoke," died June 3 at his home Los Angeles at the age of 88. The cause of death was not announced.
Mr. Arness, who was a robust 6-foot-7, were the dusty streets of Dodge City, Kansas, on behalf of a U.S. marshal, whose emblem was the force of law. He was the epitome of quiet moral authority, an arbiter of disputes in a village cow sensitive rough and ready - "Gomorrah of the plains, which they call" he said in the first episode of the series. Only if they are pushed to the limit Marshal Dillon received the revolver from its holster.
When "Gunsmoke" in 1955, was considered a new generation of "adult Western", with well-drawn characters and twisting plot, which despite its name, the show was more bandits and gunmen.
"What makes us different from other westerns," Arness told The Associated Press in 2002, "was that" Gunsmoke "was not only an action and a lot of fire because they showed character study."
Mr. Arness, who was recommended for the role of Matt Dillon for his friend John Wayne, was the center of a group that included Milburn Stone as the sweet, academic Dr. Adams, Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell - "Miss Kitty" - that led Long Branch Saloon, and Dennis Weaver as an assistant to Mr. Arness as limping, Chester Goode. After Weaver left the series in 1964, Ken Curtis joined the cast as the unforgettable character from the comics, Festus Haggen.
"Gunsmoke" on CBS for 20 years, but in Dodge City, has always been 1873. Other films come and gone, but "Gunsmoke" is one of the most popular, year after year. When was canceled in 1975, was the last Western television at that time.
Shows no other script has run since with the exception of "The Simpsons", which reached its 20 th year in 2009, and "Law & Order", who left the airwaves last year after 20 seasons. Failure to show a total of 150 episodes of "Gunsmoke" to 635.
As shown in evolution, changed the opening credits of a movie in a scene from the main street of Marshal Dillon on his horse galloping across the prairie. His relationship with Miss Kitty has developed to such an extent that they shared a kiss in an episode in 1973. He never married, however, and the social order in Dodge City remained intact.
"Matt Dillon is still star quarterback of all time, pure shooter shoulders, Marina Square, but never pigs on the screen," wrote the New York Daily News critic Gerald Nachman of culture in 1973, adding the remedy of "Gunsmoke" and Mr. .. Arness archetypal character of the plant. "Half the time you just know they are in the city, but casts a long shadow."
King James Aurness - dropped the "u" after his arrival in Hollywood - was May 23, 1923 in Minneapolis. His younger brother is actor Peter Graves, star of 1960's "Mission Impossible" and the comedy "Airplane!" Movies. Graves died last year aged 83.
