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. James arness, who burnished the legend of america’s epic west as marshal matt dillon, the laconic peacemaker of. Webjun 5, 2011 · actor james arness, who personified the tall, rugged lawman of the american frontier as marshal matt dillon on gunsmoke, u. s.