James Arness, star of "Gunsmoke" left us

James Arness,a television icon who played the title role in long-running classic Western series " Gunsmoke," died Friday in Brentwood, Southern California. He was 88.

The actor died of natural causes at his home, family spokesperson Ginny Fazer was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as saying.

Arness left a farewell message to his fans on his website, "in the event I was no longer here."

"I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of `Gunsmoke,' 'The Thing,' 'How the West Was Won' and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of," he wrote. "I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years."

A World War II veteran from Minnesota who received a Purple Heart, Arness launched his acting career in the 1947 film "The Farmer's Daughter" opposite Loretta Young. He also co-starred in John Wayne movies including "Island in the Sky," "Hondo" and "Big Jim McLain."

At the recommendation of John Wayne, the towering actor landed a role as Marshal Matt Dillion, symbol of frontier justice who watched over the town of Dodge City and kept it clear of bad guys, in "Gunsmoke" which made him an instant sensation and one of the television's most enduring stars. The series, debuted on CBS on Sept.10, 1955, ended its run in 1975, making it one of the longest- running series in history.

Arness also reprised the iconic role in five made-for- television movies during the 1987-94 period.

According to his website, the actor is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons and six grandchildren.

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