James Arness, best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on the iconic western TV series Gunsmoke, underwent a surprising transformation early in his career. Although naturally blonde, Arness dyed his hair dark brown for his breakout role on Gunsmoke in order to appear more masculine and rugged as a leading man. This seemingly small change had a huge impact, defining Arness’ public image for over two decades.
James Arness’ Natural Blonde Hair
James Arness was born with bright blonde hair, a trait that ran in his family. His natural towheaded locks were clearly evident early in his acting career.
In his first major movie role in the 1953 western The Lone Hand, Arness kept his trademark blonde hair. He was 17 years older than his co-star, leading to some awkwardness.
Even after being cast as Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke, the first few publicity photos showed Arness with his naturally light blond hair before executives intervened.
The Pressure to Dye for Masculinity
Gunsmoke producer Charles Marquis Warren believed Arness’ blonde hair undermined his masculinity and credibility in the role of Marshal Dillon.
Darker hair was considered more masculine and serious for leading men in westerns and action series at the time. Warren ordered Arness to dye his hair before the show premiered.
Although frustrated by the directive, Arness followed orders and began dying his naturally blonde hair a very dark brown before filming the Gunsmoke pilot in 1955.
This transformed Arness’ public image overnight, making his hair appear similar to John Wayne’s in iconic westerns. The look stuck for the next 20 years.
The Drastic Impact of Dyeing for Dillon
Dyeing his hair dark brown had an immediate and dramatic impact on Arness’ rugged masculine image that aligned with his stern Marshal Dillon character.
Arness’ dyed hair complemented his 6’7″ stature and steely gaze, completing his transformation into an archetypal stoic western hero.
Keeping his hair consistently dyed dark for 20 seasons of Gunsmoke ensured audiences never saw Arness as a blonde. His hair came to define the Dillon character.
When Gunsmoke ended in 1975 after a historic run, Arness finally let his hair revert to his natural sandy blonde color in his later roles. But the public still identified him with his memorable brown Gunsmoke hair.
Behind the Scenes with the Real Arness
In contrast to his serious onscreen persona, Arness was known for his lively humor and boisterous laugh behind the scenes.
Co-star Buck Taylor recalled the blonde Arness having an infectious spirit and trading jokes constantly when the cameras weren’t rolling.
James Arness’ wife Janet confirmed he loved laughing and joking with the cast and crew, not sticking to stoic character off-screen.
His blonde hair likely would have matched this lighter off-camera personality more naturally, had executives allowed it.
The Dilemma of Blonde Star Power
The pressure on James Arness to dye his hair reveals the limited leading man roles available to blonde actors historically in westerns and dramas.
Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield succeeded as blonde bombshells, but blonde men rarely found starring roles outside of comedies or villains.
Leading heroes typically required darker features to convey strength, maturity, and gravity. Light hair undercut masculine star power.
Despite starring in mostly dramatic roles, blonde actors like Robert Redford later expanded the male archetypes. But stringent perceptions remained in Arness’ era.
The Rise of Celebrity Hair Branding
James Arness’ hair dilemma presaged the big business of celebrity hair branding and spokespeople in the ensuing decades.
Stars like Farrah Fawcett and Jennifer Aniston sparked massive cultural sensations around their signature hairstyles.
Hair dye brand preferences and commercial deals became coveted exposure opportunities for stars to enhance their brand.
Had Arness emerged later, he could have potentially marketed his blonde locks rather than masking them.
Contemporary Gender Perceptions
Modern gender norms have loosened, making Arness’ forced hair color change seem dated and short-sighted.
Numerous leading men from Brad Pitt to Chris Hemsworth now frequently flaunt blonde locks without threatening their masculinity.
Hair dye among men has mushroomed into a huge business, but more for personal choice than studio pressure.
Celebrity personal branding today embraces standing out with unique attributes rather than conforming to typecast looks.
Lasting Cultural Resonance
Despite originating from outdated biases about hair color and masculinity, James Arness’ iconic brown locks as Matt Dillon left an enduring imprint on television and western pop culture. The unforgettable image of Dillon quick-drawing his six-shooter while sporting dark brown hair persists decades later as the prototypical cowboy lawman archetype.
Yet Arness’ natural blonde hair also represents a bygone era of Hollywood control and conformity. The forced choice highlights changing perceptions around gender and identity. While Arness’ hair color itself was not integral, the freedom of that choice symbolized much greater issues of autonomy and self-expression. On a simple level, Arness’ predicament reminds us of the power of personal freedom, and the value in celebrating our natural diversity.
Conclusion
James Arness’ natural blonde hair posed a dilemma for his Gunsmoke breakout role, forcing him to dye his locks dark brown to bolster his rugged masculine image as Marshal Matt Dillon. This drastic alteration shaped his on-screen persona and public perception for over 20 years on network television’s longest-running live action drama. Yet the artificial color perpetuated outdated biases. Arness’ predicament foreshadowed both the big business of celebrity personal branding and the loosening gender restrictions around concepts of identity and self-expression that persist today. His hair color experience spotlights much deeper cultural questions around conformity versus empowered authenticity.
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FAQ
What color was Matt Dillon’s hair in Gunsmoke?
Had to dye his naturally blond hair for the role of Matt Dillon, since dark hair was considered more masculine. He was the only actor to appear in all 635 episodes of Gunsmoke (1955). In 1968, he donated his 1,400-acre ranch in northern Los Angeles County to the Brandis Institute.
Was James Arness hair dyed?
Add loading and unloading freight trains to Arness’ pre-Hollywood Walk of Fame resumé. Yes, Arness had to dye his naturally blond hair for his role as Matt Dillon. Darker hair was considered more masculine. Yes, Arness had to dye his naturally blond hair for his role as Matt Dillon.
What was James Arness net worth at time of death?
James Arness’ net worth at his death was estimated to be $8 million at the time of his death. In addition, he had appeared in numerous movies and television shows in his long career, which earned him a good salary.
How tall was James Arnes?
Although Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot, he was concerned his poor eyesight would bar him. However, his 6-ft, 7-in (2.01 m) frame ended his chances because the limit for aviators was set at 6 ft, 2 in (1.88 m).
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