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James Arness died at the age of 88 today. Arness died of natural causes, said his business manager Ginny Fazer, who told Reuters he had "just been fading" in recent years. "No disease, nothing untoward, he just got tired, I guess."

The only show that my Dad really liked watching. It was a ritual with the family when I was a kid for all of us to sit down on a Saturday night and watch it together.

Our family was about the same. In fact, we might have seen every episode made.

Same here!  My mom still watches it on some old rerun chanel that she likes!  That was one of the best shows ever put out.  Too bad they can't come up with stuff like the good ol' days!

He was introduced to the world by John Wayne. I also enjoyed the show as well and America had morals back then. I myself will miss Marshall Dillon, as well.

James Arness was in a number of movies prior to being with John Wayne. He then costarred with Wayne in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky, and The Sea Chase. Then Wayne recommended Arness for the part in Gunsmoke and introduced Arness in a prologue to the first episode.

James Arness was in WWII as a rifleman for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge for his service. He was the first off the landing craft he was on at Anzio Beachhead due to his size so the others could tell how deep the water was.

How many actors today would volunteer to go to war?

Thanks for the additional information on James Arness. I always liked him and thought that he was a gentleman.