How John Wayne Got James Arness The Lead On Gunsmoke

In an interview with SCV (via jamesarness.com), James Arness spoke about how John Wayne opened the door for what would become the defining role of Arness' career. Arness was under contract with Wayne's production company at the time and had done a few movies with him. When Wayne was approached for the role of Marshal Matt Dillon, the lead character of "Gunsmoke," he turned it down, then suggested Arness for the role instead.

As Arness recalled, "When the 'Gunsmoke' offer came in, [Wayne] said, 'I wouldn't be able to do it, but I have a young man here under contract who I think would maybe fit the bill.'" Besides recommending Arness, Wayne also stepped up in a hands-on way — "he very graciously offered to introduce the first episode. ... It was a wonderful thing. He was a one-of-a-kind guy. There just was never anybody else like him," said Arness.

Prior to "Gunsmoke," the four movies Arness worked on with Wayne were "Big Jim McLain," "Island in the Sky," "Hondo," and "The Sea Chase." Arness also reprised the role of Matt Dillon for a number of TV movies in the '90s, culminating in "Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice" in 1994.