What Was James Arness Net Worth?

James Arness was an American actor with a long and impressive career in the entertainment industry. He earned a fortune from his acting as well as his military service. The most important source of his wealth was his film and TV acting. However, he also had other business interests as well.

James Arness was born on May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness and Ruth Duesler. When he was young, Arness dreamed of becoming a navy fighter pilot. As a result of his ambitions, he joined the United States Army in 1943. During his time in the Army, he was stationed in the U.S. Army’s General Hospital at Clinton, Iowa.

In his early years, he worked as a railroad boxcar loader and a logger in Pierce, Idaho. In 1945, he joined the Minneapolis radio station WLOL. Afterward, he worked as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler. Eventually, he got his first big break in a movie.

He later starred in a number of movies and television shows, including the popular Gunsmoke. This role brought him international fame. Throughout his lifetime, he received several awards for his acting, including the Western Performers Hall of Fame and the Walk of Western Stars. His most successful role was playing Matt Dillon in the hit series.

James Arness died on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. At the time of his death, he had a large estate. Some estimates say that he left behind a multimillion dollar fortune. Among the movies he starred in were Big Jim McLain, Hondo, and How the West Was Won.

During his career, he was married to Janet Surtees. Eventually, he divorced her and married another woman. Despite his marriage, he had no children. But in 1975, his daughter died at the young age of eight.

During his time on the big screen, James Arness won numerous awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was nominated for an Emmy Award three times. However, his most famous role was playing the marshal Matt Dillon in the hit television show Gunsmoke. That particular show lasted 20 seasons, making it the longest running prime-time drama series in the U.S. It was also the most expensive TV series of its time.

Although he was no longer active in the entertainment industry, his reputation for excellence remained strong. His autobiography was released in September 2001. Having had a long and prolific career, it’s no wonder that the American actor was one of the wealthiest men in Hollywood.

According to reports, James Arness’ net worth was about $8 million. This is quite a sum of money, especially considering that he was only 88 years old. Besides his acting career, he served in the United States Army and was a rifleman. So, he’s not the richest man in the world, but he certainly was an exceptional talent.