Los Angeles,CA
-- James Arness, the 6' 7" actor best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke" for 20 years, has died at 88. Arness passed away of natural causes Friday.Arness's death comes a year after his brother, Mission Impossible actor Peter Graves, died of a heart attack at age 83.Arness was born May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, starting out as a radio announcer in Minnesota in 1945. He eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he landed his big break in 1947, starring opposite Loretta Young in the film "The Farmer's Daughter."During his career, Arness befriended John Wayne who was instrumental in helping him score the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke." During his 20 years on the show, he was nominated for three Emmys.The show, one of the longest running dramatic series ever produced, was canceled in 1975. Arness made four Gunsmoke movies for TV./>
