James Arness gives the full story on his early years, his family, his military career and his film work in Hollywood, including appearances in the cult-favorite science fiction movies Them! and The Thing. He had a very long run on television’s Gunsmoke and a role in the miniseries How The West Was Won. His post-theatrical period is also covered.

This is a republication in paperback of the 2001 edition—the long anticipated account of one of the icons of 20th–century television. He offers many anecdotes of interacting with the Gunsmoke family, such as Miss Kitty, Doc and Festus. His own work as a producer is covered. Throughout are previously unpublished photographs from the author’s collection. Appendices include comments by show biz colleagues and Gunsmoke alumni, and a sampling of letters received from his fans. Actor and fellow Gunsmoke performer Burt Reynolds has written a foreword to the book.

The late James Arness lived in suburban Los Angeles with his wife Janet, where they were involved in various charity projects.

The late James E. Wise, Jr., a retired Navy captain in Alexandria, Virginia (d. 2013), wrote many books on history and the performing arts. He served as an intelligence officer aboard USS America during the 1967 Six Day War in the eastern Mediterranean and later in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War.

James Arness with James E. Wise, Jr.

Foreword by Burt Reynolds

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 248
Bibliographic Info: 86 photos, appendices, index
Copyright Date: 2013 [2001]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7588-9
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8738-7
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword by Burt Reynolds     ix
Introduction by James E. Wise, Jr.     1
Prologue     3

1. The Early Years     5
2. Anzio 1944     27
3. Drifting into Show Business     57
4. John Wayne     87
5. Gunsmoke     99
6. And Beyond     151

Appendix A: Others Remember     165
Appendix B: Comments by Guest Stars     201
Appendix C: Fan Letters     205
Appendix D: Films     223
Appendix E: Television     225
Appendix F: Honors and Awards     227

Index     229

• “gives a full account of his early years, his family, and his World War II military career…well written”—Classic Images
• “an account that’s clean, free of malice and which tells the story completely…a lot of detail”—Big Reel
• “a magnum opus”—SPERDVAC Radiogram
• “fans…will no doubt purr with pleasure…relate[s] many interesting incidents from his active life…recommend[ed]”—Wrangler’s Roost
• “recommend[ed]…provide[s] insights into both the Gunsmoke western and the tall-in-the-saddle star”—Providence Journal
• “detailed”—The Yesterday USA Radio Networks
• “comprehensive”—Western Mail
• “recommended”—Colorado Libraries