James Arness

 James Arness (1923–2011), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, an iconic American actor best known for his legendary portrayal of Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running television series Gunsmoke. Arness embodied the stoic, steadfast lawman for 20 years, bringing the character to life from 1955 to 1975 on the weekly series, and later reprising the role in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four additional made-for-TV Gunsmoke films in the 1990s. His remarkable career spanned five decades playing the same character, a record in television history.

In addition to Gunsmoke, Arness gained a European cult following for his role as Zeb Macahan in How the West Was Won and appeared in other Western-themed projects, including McClain's Law (1981–1982). The older brother of actor Peter Graves, Arness remained a beloved figure in the Western genre throughout his life. He passed away of natural causes on June 3, 2011, at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles at the age of 88. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.