LOS ANGELES - James Arness, the dominant player best known for his portrayal of Marshal Matt Dillon, the powerful symbol of justice and commander of border on the television series History of Western "Gunsmoke," died Friday. He was 88.
Arness died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, Calif., said spokeswoman Ginny Fazer family.
"Gunsmoke" debuted on CBS September 10, 1955, and with the beginning of "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" on ABC four days earlier, a new era in horse operas of television has been launched: adult western.
But while "Wyatt Earp" starring Hugh O'Brian, finished his race in 1961, "Gunsmoke" lasted until 1975, to stay ahead of competitors and many become one of the longest series in prime time in the history of network television.
In the process, Arness became one of the most enduring stars of television, back in Dillon as a handful of films "Gunsmoke" TV in the late 1980s and early 90s.
At 6 feet 7, Arness was a larger-than life actor who amply filled the boots of the legendary lawyer Dodge City in the series, which has won praise for breaking the conventions of Western TV -genre, with its strong dramatic stories and psychologically complex characters.
"Matt," Arness said, "is very human and has all the faults and shared drives to anyone who tries to do a difficult job as best he knows."
Arness was nominated for Emmys three times during the first years of the program. As John Wayne on the big screen, Arness was a commanding presence on the small screen.
"I am absolutely convinced any pantheon of television characters sustainable, well designed and memorable should include James Arness, David Bushman, then the curator of television at what is now the Paley Center for Media in New York, told the Los Angeles Times some years ago. "It has become part of the national psyche."
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