The Legendary James Arness Passes Away at 88

The Legendary American Actor, has passed away at the age of 88 (on Friday, The actor passed away while sleeping at his home in Brentwood, Calif., according to his business manager, Ginny Fazer). Arness is best known for his role on the good ole' western show Gunsmoke as Marshal Matt Dillon. At 6 foot seven inches, he was always the most confident man on and off the small screen in every Americans home.

Once the weekly show closed in 1975, Arness reprises the role of Matt five more times in made for TV movies from 1987 to 1994.After the weekly drama wrapped its run in 1975, Arness reprises the role in five made-for-TV movies from 1987 to 1994.

There was a letter posted on Arness' Official website that was written by the man himself, he had written the letter with the intentions of it being posted posthumously. "I had a wonderful life and was blessed with ... (so) many loving people and great friends," he wrote.

For me personally, I am somewhat surprised with Arness' passing but at the same token, considering his age, it shouldn't really come as a shock. I was never a fan of Westerns until my father got me into them and Gunsmoke has always been my favorite western. I was and still am a fan of the actor and I pray that his family, friends and colleagues will be OK. America has also lost an Iconic person that will forever be imprinted in our country's television history.