Webjun 3, 2011 · former gunsmoke actor james arness, who played marshal matt dillon in the western tv series for 20 years, died friday from natural causes, according to his. Webjun 5, 2011 · actor james arness, who personified the tall, rugged lawman of the american frontier as marshal matt dillon on gunsmoke, u. s. Webjun 3, 2011 · cbs. James arness, who burnished the legend of america’s epic west as marshal matt dillon, the laconic peacemaker of.