James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running western series Gunsmoke, watches reruns of the show daily and enjoys them even more now than when originally aired. The success of Gunsmoke was due to its focus on character development over action and its talented ensemble cast, led by Arness. Arness began his career in movies and television after serving in World War 2 and being persuaded to take the role of Dillon, which became his defining role over its 20 year run.