James Arness Dies

James Arness as The Thing

Actor James Arness, who gained fame as Marshal Dillion in Gunsmoke, died June 3 at the age of 88.

Fans will also remember that he appeared in two of the best known sci-fi movies of the Fifties (and these were definitely sci-fi). He played the title character in The Thing From Another World, his appearance transformed by costume and makeup, and was the FBI agent in THEM! who fought the surviving giant ants in the storm drains of Los Angeles til the flamethrowers arrived.  

[Thanks to Dave Locke for the story.]