JAMES ARNESS, 88
Died June 3rd. Played Marshal Dillon keeping the law in 1870s Dodge City for twenty years from 1955-1975 on TV's "Gunsmoke," the longest-running drama until NBC's "Law & Order" tied it in 2010.
His character was a man of few words but of a commanding presence.
Some of the seasons "Gunsmoke" ran, there were as many as 30 westerns, but in 1975, the show's last year, it was also the last of its kind.
Arness's twenty year run as the same character was also just recently matched by Kelsey Grammer who played Frasier Crane for 20 years on "Cheers" and "Frasier."
He was born James Aurness in Minneapolis, but dropped the "u" for show business. His younger brother was Peter Graves who starred in "Mission Impossible."
Liz and her mom watched this show regularly. I didn't because my parents didn't and we only had one TV.
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