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James Arness as Robert Graham

American leading man famed as the star of one of the longest-running shows in U.S. television history, "Gunsmoke" (1955). Born of Norwegian heritage in Minneapolis, Minnesota. James attended West High School in Minneapolis. Although he appeared in school plays, he had no interest in performing, and dreamed instead of going to sea.

His younger brother Peter (later to gain fame as actor Peter Graves) suggested he take a radio course at the University of Minnesota. James did so, and a teacher recommended him for a job as an announcer at a Minneapolis radio station.

Though seemingly headed for success in radio, he followed a boyhood friend's suggestion and went with the friend to Hollywood in hopes of getting work as film extras. He studied at the Bliss-Hayden Theatre School under actor Harry Hayden, and while appearing in a play there was spotted by agent Leon Lance.

Lance got the actor a role as Loretta Young's brother in The Farmer's Daughter (1947). The director of that film, H.C. Potter, recommended that he drop the "u" from his last name and soon thereafter the actor was officially known as James Arness.

Little work followed this break, and Arness became something of a beach bum, living on the shore at San Onofre and spending his days surfing. He began taking his acting career more seriously when he began to receive fan mail following the release of the Young picture.

He appeared in a production of "Candida" at the Pasadena Community Playhouse, and married his leading lady, Virginia Chapman. She pressed him to study acting and to work harder in pursuit of a career, but Arness has been consistent in ascribing his success to luck.

He began to get small roles with frequency, often, due to his size, villainous characters. Most notable among these was that of the space alien in The Thing from Another World (1951). While playing a Greek warrior in a play, Arness was spotted by agent Charles K. Feldman, who represented John Wayne.

Feldman introduced Arness to Wayne, who put the self-described 6' 6" actor under personal contract. Arness played several roles over the next few years for and with Wayne, whom he considered a mentor.

In 1955, Wayne recommended Arness for the lead role of Matt Dillon in the TV series "Gunsmoke" (1955). (Contrary to urban legend, Wayne himself was never offered the role.) Arness at first declined, thinking a TV series could derail his growing film career, but Wayne argued for the show, and Arness accepted.

His portrayal of stalwart marshal Dillon became an iconic figure in American television and the series, on the air for twenty seasons, is, as of 2008, the longest-running dramatic series in U.S. television history. Arness became world-famous and years later reprised the character in a series of TV movies.

After the surprising cancellation of "Gunsmoke" in 1975, Arness jumped immediately into another successful Western project, a TV-movie-miniseries-series combination known as "How The West Was Won."

A brief modern police drama, "McClain's Law" (1981), followed, and Arness played his mentor John Wayne's role in Red River (1988) (TV), a remake of the Wayne classic. Following the aforementioned "Gunsmoke" TV movies (the last in 1994, when Arness was 71), Arness basically retired.

Sometime later, Peterson and Graham are at the Alamogordo airport. Peterson is going over the message they received.

PETERSON: I still don't get this. Doctors Medford, two of them, Department of Agriculture. You did send that cast to your outfit in Washington, didn't you?

GRAHAM: Yea.

PETERSON: Well does this mean that somebody's identified it?

GRAHAM: I don't know.

PETERSON: Great.

AIR FORCE CORPORAL: Pardon me, sir. The plane you're waiting for has landed. It's unloading right over there.

GRAHAM: Thanks.

Peterson and Graham walker over to the landing area. Graham pops a cigarette in his mouth.

GRAHAM: Got a match?

PETERSON: Yea.

The military plane arrives. Dr. Harold Medford exits the plane. A military attendant assists him.

H. MEDFORD: Oh, thank you.

Peterson and Graham approach Dr. Medford.

GRAHAM: Dr. Medford? . . . Are you Dr. Medford?

H. MEDFORD: Yes, yes, no need to shout. . . Oh, you're the people, of course, got a message some place, said you would meet us.

PETERSON: That's right.

GRAHAM: I'm Bob Graham.

H. MEDFORD: How do you do.

GRAHAM: This is Sgt. Ben Peterson.

PETERSON: Hi.

H. MEDFORD: Oh, you're the one that found the print.

PETERSON: Yea, that's right.

Harold turns back towards the airplane.

H. MEDFORD: Pat! . . . Pat, hurry up.

They turn to see a pair of lovely legs climbing down the exit, her skirt gets stuck on something.

P. MEDFORD: I'm caught.

MILITARY ATTENDANT: Can I help?

P. MEDFORD: No thank you, I think I can manage it.

Graham is getting an eye full with a slight smile on his face. She approaches them.

H. MEDFORD: This is the other Dr. Medford, gentlemen, my daughter Patricia. This is the man who found the print, Sgt. uhhhh . . . .

PETERSON: Ben Peterson, Miss.

P. MEDFORD: How do you do. . . Well then you must be Mr. Robert Graham.

GRAHAM: Yes ma'am, how do you do.

P. MEDFORD: Hello there.

GRAHAM: Got a car waiting, we can take you to the hotel.

H. MEDFORD: The hotel can wait, we got work to do. Come on, I want to read all your reports right away. Come on, Pat

P. MEDFORD: Excuse me, gentlemen.

The two doctors head off, Peterson and Graham follow.

GRAHAM: Just had this suit pressed.

PETERSON: She's quite a doctor, huh?

Graham has a lusty smile on his face

GRAHAM: Yea, if she's the kind that takes care of sick people, I think I could get a fever real quick.

Peterson laughs.