James Arness was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the television series Gunsmoke. He was also known for his impressive height, which made him stand out among his co-stars and other actors. But how tall was he exactly, and what was his shoe size?
James Arness Height
According to Body Size, James Arness was born on May 26, 1923, and died on June 3, 2011, at the age of 88. He had a height of 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) and a weight of 203 lb (92 kg). He was one of the tallest actors in Hollywood history, and often had to wear custom-made shoes and clothes to fit his large frame.
James Arness was of Norwegian and German ancestry, and inherited his height from his father, who was also 6 ft 7 in. His younger brother, Peter Graves, was also an actor, but was much shorter at 6 ft 2 in (188 cm). James Arness dropped the “u” from his surname when he started acting, as he thought it would be easier to pronounce.
James Arness Shoe Size
James Arness had a shoe size of 14 US (13 UK, 47 EU), according to Footwear Heights. This is a very large shoe size, even for someone of his height. For comparison, the average shoe size for men in the US is 10.5 US (9.5 UK, 44 EU).
James Arness often had difficulty finding shoes that fit him well, and sometimes had to wear boots that were too small for him. He once said that he wore a pair of boots that were size 12 for a movie, and that they hurt his feet so much that he had to soak them in ice water after each day of shooting.
James Arness and John Wayne
James Arness was discovered by John Wayne, who was one of the most popular and influential actors of his time. John Wayne was also known for his height, as he stood at 6 ft 4 in (193 cm). However, he was still shorter than James Arness by about 3 inches.
John Wayne and James Arness starred together in several films and TV shows, such as Big Jim McLain (1952) and Gunsmoke (1955-1975). In some scenes, John Wayne had to stand on a box or wear lifts in his shoes to appear taller than James Arness. However, they were good friends and respected each other’s talents.
Conclusion
James Arness was a legendary actor who played one of the most iconic roles in TV history. He was also a very tall man who had a large shoe size. His height and shoe size made him stand out among his peers and fans, and added to his charisma and presence on screen. He will always be remembered as one of the giants of Hollywood.