Jenny Lee Arness Died Similarly to Her Mother – More about James Arness's Daughter

Jenny Lee Arness was James Arness's first child with his first wife, late actress and businesswoman Virginia Arness. Jenny was in her 20s when she passed away, with her mother following two years later.

James Arness accrued long-lasting fame as the star of the western series "Gunsmoke." He had joined Hollywood in the late 1940s, just years before he married his first wife, Virginia Arness, née Chapman.

In addition to Virginia's older son from a previous relationship, the former couple welcomed two children: their daughter, Jenny Lee Arness, and her younger brother, Rolf. Jenny was the first of James and Virginia's children to pass away.

Jenny Lee Arness Appeared in 'Gunsmoke'

"Gunsmoke" first aired in 1955, starring Jenny's father as protagonist Marshal Matt Dillon. The Emmy-winning show produced 20 seasons within 21 years before it was canceled. Jenny, born in 1950, landed only two minor roles on two separate episodes in 1964.

She played Amy on the 14th episode of season nine and Laurie on the 13th episode of season ten. No other onscreen roles followed. Jenny graduated from high school and went to study in Switzerland; however, little else is known about her career pursuits.

Her mother, Virginia, had also mostly dabbled in acting. The actress had minor roles in two films and appeared briefly in several TV shows. In addition to being the main star of "Gunsmoke," Jenny's father starred in other onscreen productions, including the "Gunsmoke" revival films in the '90s.

Jenny Lee Arness Lived with Her Father after Her Parents Divorced

Jenny's parents divorced in the early 1960s. Her father received custody of her and her younger brother, but she maintained what appeared to be a good relationship with her mother. In a 1967 issue of Ebony Magazine, she spoke briefly about spending time with Virginia.

"There's never a dull moment with [Mother]," she told the outlet, which was reporting about the Californian motel, Oasis. Virginia had owned Oasis, where Jenny and her brother, Rolf, often visited. It was said that Jenny found the motel's atmosphere "exciting."

Jenny Lee Arness Died of an Overdose

Jenny died in May 1975 at age 24 after overdosing on sleeping pills. Her mother passed away two years later, in mid-1977, after what was determined to have been "an accidental overdose of sleeping pills."

Her older brother, Craig Aurness, whom James adopted after marrying Virginia, lived to become an accomplished photographer. He worked for National Geographic for over ten years and received recognition from the National Press Photographers Association.

Afterward, Craig co-founded the Westlight stock photo agency; the company was sold in 1998, several years before his death in December 2004. He had a wife, Daphne, and two children, Holly and Brian, all of whom survived him.

Jenny's younger brother, Rolf, became a World Champion surfer, though he was said to have abandoned the sport after 1970 and lived a private life. Her father, who donated the ranch where he raised her and her siblings in 1968, remarried Janet Surtees and remained her spouse until he died in 2011.