Janet Surtees is the widow of late American actor James Arness, best remembered for his role as Marshal Matt Dillon in “Gunsmoke.”
Early Life and Age
Janet Surtees is around 75-80 years old. Janet is best known as the second wife of veteran actor James Arness. According to her father’s birth certificates and her mother’s information, her father was a pilot. Her only sibling (name omitted) was also a pilot. Surtees is a humanitarian and social worker. Through volunteering, she helps the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, a philanthropic research organization.
Why is Janet Surtees famous?
In the United States, Janet Surtees is well-known. She is well known as the second wife of late American actor James Arness.
Janet Surtees Husband
On December 16, 1978, Surtees married James Arness. People recognize James for his part in the TV show and film franchise Gunsmoke.
Surtees worked at a clothing store where they initially met. After working together for several years, she and the store owner became good friends. Surtees and James met when the store owner’s make-up artist married James make-up artist. She told outsider.com about her first meeting with James in March 2021.
One evening, she [her buddy] remarked, “Well, Jim is coming over for dinner.” ‘Why don’t you come over and introduce yourself to him?’ ‘Eew, an unknown actor,’ I thought.
She accepted the invitation and went out to supper with James. She had plans to meet him to inform her son, a major Gunsmoke (TV Movie) fan.
They reunited a few days later at Red Ridge Meadows in Mammoth Lakes, where James had rented horses for them. After spending some time together, they returned home, and James informed her that he was departing for Alaska and would call her only when he returned.
On the other hand, Surtees claimed James hadn’t contacted in months. Three months later, James called her, and the two went on another date. They began dating soon after and dated for nearly four years before marriage.
Before their marriage in 1978, the two became acquainted and went on several dates. Before James died in 2011, they had been married for 33 years.
James Arness’ Wife
James Arness, also known as James King Aurness, was a television and film actor and producer. In addition, he was a former US Army soldier who fought as a rifleman in WWII. James was born on May 26, 1923, in Minnesota, USA.
In 1942, he graduated from Minneapolis’ West High School. His father drafted him into the United States Army the following year, and the Army honorably released him in 1945.
He made his acting debut as Peter Holstrom in the 1947 film The Farmer’s Daughter. He played Ray in the film Roses Are Red the same year. He then acted in many other TV movies, films, and TV series until getting his most memorable part in 1955. He starred in the CBS action program Gunsmoke. From 1955 until 1975, he appeared in over 635 episodes as Matt Dillon.
James also appeared in How the West Was Won (1976-1979), McClain’s Law (1981-1982), Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990 TV movie), Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993 TV movie), and other films. During his 47-year entertainment career, he received 47 acting credits and three production credits.
Janet Surtees Son
Surtees has been married twice. On the internet, there is no information on her first marriage. She did, however, have one son from her first marriage. After her first marriage ended in divorce, she married James Arness. Although the couple had no children together, James had three children from his previous marriage to actress Virginia Chapman.
James married Virginia in 1948 and adopted her son Craig, who died on December 14, 2004. Rolf (born February 18, 1952) and Jenny Lee Arness were their biological children (born May 23, 1950).
Craig Arness, who died on December 14, 2004, created the stock photography agency Westlight and was a National Geographic photographer.
On the other hand, Rolf Arness is a professional surfer who won the World Surfing Championship in 1970.
After the couple split in 1963, the court granted Arness legal custody of the children. Jenny, their daughter, died due to a heroin overdose in 1975. Virginia, his first wife, died in a heroin overdose two years later, in 1977.
Is Janet Surtees still alive?
According to popular belief, Surtees is still alive, according to an article published on outsider.com on March 6, 2021. She currently lives in Los Angeles. It’s the residence she and her late husband James shared before he died.
James died on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88, of natural causes in his Brentwood residence in Los Angeles. In Glendale, California, the attendees laid his casket to rest in the Sanctuary of Abiding Hope alcove of Forest Lawn Memorial Park’s Great Mausoleum.
Janet Surtees Net Worth
Janet Surtees, a charming, vibrant, and accomplished lady is best known as the widow of late American actor James Arness. Janet now leads a regular life and has a net worth of $1 million.
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