Virginia Chapman was an actress who was best known for being the first wife of James Arness, the star of the long-running western series Gunsmoke. She was also the mother of three children, Craig, Rolf, and Jenny Lee Arness. However, her life was not as glamorous as it seemed. She struggled with mental health issues, addiction, and marital problems. She died of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills in 1977, at the age of 56. Here is the tragic story of Virginia Chapman’s cause of death and how it affected her family and friends.
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Early Life and Career
Virginia Chapman was born on June 14, 1921, in Los Angeles, California. She was the daughter of William Baskett Chapman and Mary Elizabeth Chapman. She had a brother named William Jr. and a sister named Mary Lou. She attended Hollywood High School and later studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.
She began her acting career in the late 1940s, appearing in small roles in films such as The Big Clock (1948), The Snake Pit (1948), and The Lady Gambles (1949). She also worked in radio and television, appearing in shows such as Highway Patrol (1955), Official Detective (1957), and Perry Mason (1957). She was mostly cast as a supporting actress or a guest star, never achieving major fame or recognition.
Marriage to James Arness
Virginia Chapman met James Arness in 1946, when they were both studying acting at the Bliss-Hayden School of Acting in Beverly Hills. They fell in love and got married on February 12, 1948. They had three children: Craig (born 1949), Rolf (born 1952), and Jenny Lee (born 1950).
James Arness was a struggling actor at the time, who had served in World War II and suffered a severe leg injury. He had difficulty finding steady work and supporting his family. Virginia Chapman encouraged him to pursue his acting career and helped him get an agent and auditions. She was his biggest supporter and fan.
However, things changed when James Arness landed the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke in 1955. The show became a huge hit and made him a star. He became very busy with his work and spent long hours on the set. He also started to enjoy the perks of fame and fortune, such as traveling, socializing, and partying.
Virginia Chapman felt neglected and lonely. She also became jealous and insecure about her husband’s success and popularity. She started to drink heavily and abuse prescription drugs to cope with her depression and anxiety. She also developed a gambling addiction and ran up huge debts.
The couple’s marriage deteriorated over the years. They fought frequently and bitterly. They separated several times but always reconciled. They tried to save their marriage by going to counseling and therapy, but it did not work. They finally divorced in 1963, after 15 years of marriage.
Post-Divorce Life and Death
After the divorce, Virginia Chapman continued to struggle with her mental health and addiction issues. She also had financial problems, as she received only a small alimony from James Arness. She tried to revive her acting career, but she did not get many offers or roles.
She also faced another tragedy when her daughter Jenny Lee Arness committed suicide in 1975, at the age of 24. Jenny Lee Arness was also an actress who had appeared in Gunsmoke with her father. She suffered from depression and drug abuse as well. She overdosed on pills in her apartment in Malibu.
Virginia Chapman was devastated by her daughter’s death. She blamed herself for not being able to help her or prevent her from taking her own life. She also felt guilty for passing on her genes and problems to her children.
Two years after her daughter’s death, Virginia Chapman died of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills on July 29, 1977, in her home in Malibu. She was found by her son Rolf, who had come to visit her. She was only 56 years old.
Her death was ruled as accidental by the coroner, who found no evidence of foul play or suicide intent. However, some speculated that she might have taken her own life out of grief or despair.
She was buried next to her daughter Jenny Lee at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Legacy and Impact
Virginia Chapman’s cause of death shocked and saddened her family and friends. James Arness expressed his sorrow and regret over losing his ex-wife and daughter. He said that he still loved Virginia Chapman and that she was a wonderful person who had a lot of problems.
He also said that he wished he could have done more to help her or save their marriage. He admitted that he was not a good husband or father and that he was too focused on his career and himself. He said that he learned from his mistakes and tried to be a better person and parent to his surviving children.
He also said that he missed his daughter Jenny Lee and that she was a beautiful and talented girl who had a bright future ahead of her. He said that he was proud of her and that he hoped she was at peace.
James Arness remarried in 1978, to Janet Surtees, a former airline stewardess. They remained married until his death in 2011, at the age of 88. He also continued to star in Gunsmoke until 1975, and later appeared in other films and TV shows, such as How the West Was Won (1977-1979), The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987), and Gunsmoke: One Man’s Justice (1994).
He also wrote an autobiography, James Arness: An Autobiography, in 2001, in which he shared his life story and memories of Virginia Chapman and Jenny Lee Arness.
Virginia Chapman’s sons, Craig and Rolf, also pursued careers in the entertainment industry. Craig became a photographer and producer, who worked on documentaries and films such as The Thing (1982) and Red Dawn (1984). Rolf became a professional surfer and a world champion in 1970. He also appeared in several surfing films and documentaries.
Virginia Chapman’s cause of death was a tragic end to a troubled life. She was a talented actress who had a lot of potential, but she was overshadowed by her husband’s fame and success. She was also a loving mother who tried to raise her children well, but she was plagued by mental illness and addiction. She died alone and unhappy, leaving behind a legacy of sadness and regret.
However, she also left behind a legacy of love and support. She was the one who helped James Arness achieve his dream of becoming an actor. She was the one who gave birth to three beautiful children who inherited her talent and spirit. She was the one who touched the lives of many people who knew her and cared for her.
She may not have had a happy life, but she had a meaningful one. She may not have died peacefully, but she died with dignity. She may not have been famous or celebrated, but she was remembered and honored.
Virginia Chapman’s cause of death was not the end of her story. It was just the beginning of her memory.
