- Janet Surtees is the widow of late Hollywood icon James Arness.
- Janet was born in the United States of America on February 15, 1947.
- Janet’s estimated wealth is $1 million. She currently resides in Los Angeles.
- The couple did not have any biological children.
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Who is Janet Surtees?
Janet Surtees (née Arness) is the widow of late Hollywood icon James Arness. Janet Surtees’s late husband rose to fame for his portrayal of Marshal Matt Dillon in the cult smash CBS TV series Gunsmoke. The couple began dating a year before the drama series ended.
What are her parent’s names? Janet Surtees’s Birthday
Janet Surtees was born in the United States of America on February 15, 1947. She is of Caucasian ancestry and of American nationality.
Surtees’ father was a pilot, but little information about her mother has been released. She has a sibling who has previously worked as a pilot.
Inside Janet and Husband James Arness’s Marriage
The pair married in a private wedding ceremony in 1978.
They were blissfully married since their wedding and supported each other through thick and thin till the actor’s death in 2011.
Janet Surtees was James’s wife till his death in 2011.
Despite their long marriage, the two kept their love life private throughout their partnership. They used to appear in public only on occasion.
In 2001, they had a rare appearance at a book signing for James’ book James Arness: An Autobiography in Los Angeles.
When and how did they first meet?
Janet used to work at Glen Alden’s wife’s business on Tujunga Avenue, which was owned by James Arness’ makeup artist Glen Alden.
She worked in the shop for almost six years. Janet met her future husband there.
Glen’s wife used to tell him about James’ experiences and his wonderful parts in films and television series, particularly on the CBS serial Gunsmoke.
Surtees, on the other hand, was unaware of James’ great Hollywood career at the time.
The actor himself came over for supper where Janet was working one day, and the two had their first meeting.
They proceeded to Red Ridge Meadows in Mammoth Lakes after a few days. They had a great time there.
The actor arranged for the couple to rent horses. They were both enthusiastic skiers.
After spending some quality time together, they returned home, and James informed his future wife that he was leaving for Alaska and would call her only after his return.
James Arness was married to Janet until his death.
However, Janet said that the actor did not call her for several months. After three months, James called her, and the two went out to supper.
They began dating soon after and dated for almost four years before marrying.
Did they have any children together?
No, the couple did not have biological children. However, both James and Janet had children from prior relationships.
Surtees has a son from a previous relationship. However, the specifics of her son’s biological father are still unavailable.
Besides, Janet’s son was a great admirer of Gunsmoke.
On the other side, James had two children; a son Rolf (born February 18, 1952), and a daughter Jenny Lee Arness (b May 23, 1950) from his first marriage to Virginia Chapman.
Their son Rolf was the 1970 World Surfing Championship winner. Sadly, their daughter Jenny died of a drug overdose in 1975.
Janet Surtees’ Husband’s Death
One of the best actors, James, passed away on 3rd June 2011. He was 88-year-old at the time of his death.
He died of natural causes in his Brentwood home in Los Angeles.
His corpse was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
What Is Janet Surtees Doing After Her Husband’s Demise?
She has currently engaged in charity work. Like her late hubby, Surtees has the same passion for humanity.
She supports the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation.
Know about:
Take A Look At Her Net Worth
Janet Surtees’s estimated wealth is $1 million. She currently resides in Los Angeles.
The average median price of a home in the city is $650,000.
On the other hand, her late husband, James, had a net worth of $8 million at his death.
He mainly earned his wealth from his acting career. He began his acting career by working in the movie The Farmer’s Daughter in 1974.
The actor rose to stardom after his fan-favorite role in the acclaimed TV series Gunsmoke.
He worked in the series from 1955-75. He also appeared in five made-for-television Gunsmoke movies.
