Gunsmoke, a gritty depiction of American West life, featured screen legends like Burt Reynolds and John Wayne in guest roles. Some Gunsmoke actors still living and working today include Roger Ewing, Buck Taylor, Kim Darby, and William Shatner.

Are any of the old Gunsmoke actors still alive?

The regulars who are still with us are: Roger Ewing (Thad Greenwood), who is 73; Buck Taylor (Newly O'Brien), who is 77; and Burt Reynolds (Quint Asper), who is 79. Marshall Trimble is Arizona's official historian.

Is Doc on Gunsmoke still living?

Stone continued playing the Doc Adams character until the show was canceled after season 20. Stone passed away in 1980 after another heart attack. Of course, Stone did not participate in any of the Gunsmoke reunion movies, because they were filmed long after Stone's death.

Did the cast of Gunsmoke get along in real life?

The cast of Gunsmoke was able to get pretty chummy with each other during the show's twenty-season run, to the point where they felt like a family. Leading this cast of Western stars was James Arness, a man who was— apparently— as tall as he was kind.

Who was the oldest actor on Gunsmoke?

103-year-old Uncle Finney was played by 84-year-old Burt Mustin. Although this was his only appearance in Gunsmoke, he had 197 film acting credits, beginning in 1951 at age 67. Mr. Mustin passed away in 1977 at the age of 92.

How Each Gunsmoke Cast Member Died

Why did Festus quit Gunsmoke?

Gunsmoke made Ken Curtis' Festus Haggen a series regular to replace Dennis Weaver's beloved Chester Goode after he left to pursue other acting opportunities. However, Curtis refused to return for the first made-for-tv Gunsmoke movie after its 20-season run because of a couple of serious disagreements with a producer.

Did Burt Reynolds get along with James Arness?

Although he was only in 50 episodes and joined mid-season, Reynolds didn't feel like an outsider. In fact, while he was there, he and the cast became great friends. "He was a wonderful guy to work with, and we all became friends," Arness said. "He just fit right in with the family group, and we had a wonderful time.

Did James Arness and Dennis Weaver get along?

' ” Arness, who remained close to Weaver after he left the series, praised him as a “really fine actor.” “We really liked each other a whole lot,” Arness said.

What actor was in every episode of Gunsmoke?

A list of Gunsmoke cast members in order of how many episodes they appeared in would start predictably enough. James Arness, who lead the series as Marshall Matt Dillon, was in all 635 episodes.

Why did Buck Taylor leave Gunsmoke?

Taylor said he was up for a couple of other film roles at the time and had to make a choice. It turns out to have been the best decision of his career. Newly became a key member of the cast and Taylor stayed with the series for eight seasons and 174 episodes until its cancellation in 1975.

Why did Gunsmoke end so abruptly?

Between 1963 and 1967, the ratings for Gunsmoke had declined to the point where the show fell outside the Top 30 in the Nielsen ratings. The decision to cancel Gunsmoke was initiated by a younger core of CBS executives, who felt that Gunsmoke was outdated and should be replaced with a more contemporary show.

How old was the Dr on Gunsmoke when he died?

Fully retired to his ranch in 1975 after the show's cancellation, he was eventually awarded an honorary doctorate from St. Mary of the Plains College in (of course) Dodge City, Kansas. Married to Jane Garrison, the 75-year-old veteran died of a heart attack on June 12, 1980 in La Jolla, California.

What female made the most guest appearances on Gunsmoke?

Nolan appeared as a guest star in television's Gunsmoke more than any other female.

Did John Wayne and James Arness like each other?

He became a close friend of John Wayne and appeared in supporting roles in Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky and The Sea Chase, all starring Wayne. Arness starred in Gun the Man Down, a fast-paced Western, for Wayne's production company.

Who did not get along on Gunsmoke?

Stone was brought on as one of the original principal cast members along with James Arness, Amanda Blake, and Dennis Weaver. However, they didn't all initially get along. Stone initially “hated” Arness because he didn't think that he took the job seriously enough.

Did James Arness ever miss an episode of Gunsmoke?

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.

Why was Miss Kitty fired from Gunsmoke?

Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty, grew tired of commuting from her Phoenix home to Hollywood and quit the show in 1974.

Why did Dennis Weaver quit Gunsmoke?

Dennis Weaver never anticipated that the series would be as successful and long running as it was— and as he neared the end of his time on Gunsmoke, he was entirely out of creative directions in which to take his character, and he began to feel the physical repercussions of walking with a limp for so long.

Why did Doc leave Gunsmoke?

First of 6 episodes where Pat Hingle played Dr. John Chapman as a replacement for Doc Adams when Milburn Stone left the series for heart bypass surgery.

What happened to the original bartender on Gunsmoke?

Strange Passed Away From Lung Cancer In 1973

Strange's diagnosis didn't deter him from acting as much as he could, and even after he died on September 20, 1973, fans were treated to five additional episodes with the lovable bartender that had been filmed before he retired.

Are any cast members from Gunsmoke still living?

Gunsmoke, a gritty depiction of American West life, featured screen legends like Burt Reynolds and John Wayne in guest roles. Some Gunsmoke actors still living and working today include Roger Ewing, Buck Taylor, Kim Darby, and William Shatner.

How old was Miss Kitty of Gunsmoke when she died?

Although when she died in August 1989, the media initially reported that she died of cancer, the cause of death was later confirmed to be AIDS-related complications. It is not known how she contracted the virus. Blake was 60 years old.