. >> i'm thinking about doing tyler perry in the park. how is that?ut which one. >> reporter: ahead, remembering tv's marshal dylan, james around. ,,,,,,,,,,,, >> reporter: it happened this week. the loss of tv's most stalwart lawman. we learned of the death of james arnett who played marshal matt dylan on gun smoke for 20 years. born in minneapolis the older brother of actor peter graves arnett drifted through various jobs in hollywood before finding movie parts including roles in sci-fi thrillers such as "them." >> i just found your missing person. >> reporter: and "the thing." when cbs launched a tv version of its radio series gun smoke in 1955, it offered the lead to film legend john wayne who recommended his occasional movie co-shar arnett for the part instead. >> they have a young man here under contract who i think would maybe fit the bill. you know. he very graciously offered to introduce the first episode. >> now i'm proud to present my friend jim arness in gun smoke. >> reporter: week after week, year after year, the 6'7" arness played marsh