Since 1955, he has towered above all Western lawmen—at least those on television. That’s not just because James Arness, better known as Marshal Matthew Dillon, stands 6-foot-7. Arness was nominated for three Emmy awards for his portrayal of the Dodge City lawman, and Gunsmoke, which ran for 20 years on CBS, probably will always remain TV’s longest-running Western. Arness, who turned 79 in May, lives near Los Angeles with wife Janet, and works on charity projects and keeps up with fans


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