James Arness just rode off into the sunset. But he'll always be "The Thing" to me.



James Arness of 'Gunsmoke' fame dies at 88
June 3, 2011, 12:09 PM EST
CBS spokesman Chris Ender says former "Gunsmoke" star James Arness has died at age 88.

Ender had no further details, but Arness' official website said the actor died Friday of natural causes.

Arness played U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon in the 1955-75 CBS Western series that ran on CBS from 1955 to 1975, becoming the longest-running dramatic series in network history until NBC's "Law & Order" tied.