James Arness’ Wife Vanished After Their Divorce — But He Married The Love Of His Life 5 Years Later

Jan 05, 2023

James Arness was one of the most prominent television personalities in the 1950s up until the 1990s in the United States. His muscular physique and charming and authoritative personality made him one of Hollywood's biggest Western drama stars at the time. 

Notably, James gained massive popularity when he took on the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in the CBS Television series "Gunsmoke," a role he played for 20 years. James has been known for the role throughout his career, which is why the subsequent projects he starred in are linked to it. 

From 1955 to 1975, he starred in the weekly series "Gunsmoke." In 1987, he played the same character in the television film "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge." He also reprised his role in the movies that came after: "Gunsmoke: The Last Apache" in 1990, "Gunsmoke: To the Last Man" in 1992, "Gunsmoke: The Long Ride" in 1993, and "Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice" in 1994.  

Aside from the "Gunsmoke" franchise, James made a name for himself, starring in other films throughout the 50s. These include "Wyoming Mail," "Two Lost Worlds," "The People Against O'Hara," "Iron Man," The Lone Hand," and "Island in the Sky," among many others. 

But, his role as Zeb Macahan in "How The West Was Won" sealed him as a television icon in the United States and Europe. James starred alongside huge TV legends like Eva Marie Saint, Fionnula Flanagan, Bruce Boxleitner, and Richard Kiley. The series was so huge it even got a 400-page "epic-length" paperback novelization of one of its first few episodes. 

Despite the glamorous life behind the scenes, James had a pretty complicated life leading to her divorce, up until his marriage to his second wife, who became his life-long partner until the very end. 

Born James King Aurness to businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler, James lived a pretty wealthy life being from Norweigan and of German descent. James had a stint in performing onstage when he was young, but later on, he expressed little interest in pursuing a career out of it and heeded the call of the seas instead. 

He is the older brother of "Mission: Impossible," and "Airplane!" actor Peter Graves. Growing up, their mother instilled a love for the arts, Peter pursued it immediately, but James, it took him a lot longer before realizing it was his destiny. 

In 1943, James was drafted into the Navy. He and Peter participated in the Second World War, but unfortunately, he didn't leave the battlefield uninjured. During the Battle of Anzio, he was severely wounded in his right leg. After multiple surgeries, he was then medically discharged. 

Years later, after being a veteran at the top of his prime, James acted on his kept passion – acting. When he was acting in a theatre in Los Angeles, a Hollywood agent spotted him and linked him to Dore Schary, who gave him a few roles in 1947. 

A year later, he married his first wife, Virginia Chapman. James adopted her son, Craig. James and Virginia had two children – Rolf, who became World Surfing Champion in 1970, and Jenny. On the other hand, Craig pursued photography and became an official photographer for National Geographic. 

However, after 15 years of marriage, James and Virginia had a divorce, and James was granted legal custody of their children. Eventually, Virginia fleed to San Bernardino, California, vanishing immediately after the divorce. She died in 1977 from a drug overdose, following her daughter's death two years prior on the same cause. 

Despite the separation, James still pursued his career. In the latter seasons of "Gunsmoke," Arness met what would become his second wife, Janet Surtees. He met Janet through his makeup artist Glen Alden's wife. Alden's wife worked with Janet at the time in a dress shop. 

At first, Janet was skeptical about meeting James, a television star, but since her son was a fan of his, she tried and took that leap of fate. 

"I'm sitting there nervously waiting, and I hear a knock on the door. And here comes this huge man through the door, I was like, oh my gosh. He is a big guy, and He was very polite," she recalls of meeting James.

"We were introduced to each other, we sat down, and Jim was so friendly he was just so down-to-earth, and my nervousness went away. We just started talking, and he was a skier, and I was into skiing." 

After their first meeting, Janet did not call James until after three months. Since they set up another dinner date, it became the start of their lifelong journey together as a couple. 

In 1978, James and Janet tied the knot at a wedding in Brentwood, Los Angeles wedding. James and Janet lived happily, even after his stint as Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke" and his movies.

According to the Los Angeles Times, James passed away at 88 years old on June 3, 2011, due to natural causes. Janet has been with him until his dying last breath. He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Rolf and Jimmy; and six grandchildren.

Are you a James Arness fan? What do you think of his eventful life with his two wives? Isn't James and Janet's relationship adorable? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other James Arness fans!