Did Chester from Gunsmoke pass away?

Dennis Weaver, whose portrayal of Deputy Chester Goode in the classic television western "Gunsmoke" made him the favorite sidekick of the early television era, died on Friday at his home in Ridgway, Colo. He was 81.
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What happened to Chester on Gunsmoke?

In 1964 Weaver left Gunsmoke to star as a friendly veterinary physician raising an adopted Chinese boy as a single father in NBC's one season comedy drama Kentucky Jones. He had a significant role in the 1966 western Duel at Diablo, with James Garner and Sidney Poitier.
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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.
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How old was James Arness when he died?

Death. Arness died from natural causes at the age of 88 years at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles on June 3, 2011. His body was interred in the Sanctuary of Abiding Hope alcove in the Jasmine Terrace section of the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
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Why was Dennis Weaver written off of Gunsmoke?

But the biggest reason Dennis Weaver said farewell to his most famous role was due to his fear of being typecast and potentially losing out on career-changing opportunities as a result. While his decision was risky, it ended up paying off for the actor.
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The Sad Reason Dennis Weaver Was Written off Gunsmoke

Did Dennis Weaver and James Arness get along on Gunsmoke?

' ” 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.
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Why did Kitty get fired from Gunsmoke?

Nineteen years of encouraging the good works of Marshal Matt Dillon on the TV show ''Gunsmoke,'' and never even a kiss from the hero. Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty, grew tired of commuting from her Phoenix home to Hollywood and quit the show in 1974.
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What disease did James Arness have?

"No disease, nothing untoward, he just got tired, I guess," she said. Arness was best known for his 20 years on TV playing Matt Dillon, the U.S. marshal in the dusty wild-west town of Dodge City, Kansas, a role for which he was recommended by his showbiz mentor and friend, the film star John Wayne.
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Did James Arness wife appear on Gunsmoke?

In the unedited version, there is an odd scene where Matt and Chester approach a gypsy in Dodge City played by James Arness's wife at the time, Virginia Chapman. She is uncredited in this show; however, in a previous episode, Reed Survives (1955), she is credited as a gypsy but never seen.
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How did Gunsmoke end?

After 20 seasons on air, Gunsmoke simply disappeared from the schedule. Alas, there was no fanfare, no fond farewell, no spelling "Goodbye" with rocks as Marshal Matt Dillon rode off into the sunset. Instead, the final episode of Gunsmoke to air was "The Sharecroppers," the 635th tale of that classic Dodge City show.
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How was Sam written out of Gunsmoke?

After over 200 episodes of the show, Glenn Strange stepped away from Gunsmoke in 1972 because of his lung cancer diagnosis. The sizable character actor was most remembered for playing villainous roles, but his turn as Sam Noonan was a pleasant change of pace for the somewhat typecast performer.
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What was wrong with Festus eye on Gunsmoke?

Often, Festus would squint with the right eye partially closed as well. This means he is right handed but left eye dominant. There are many other actors who do this too. Clint Eastwood does it on Rawhide.
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Who did Matt Dillon marry in Gunsmoke?

A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia.
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Why did James Arness limp?

The towering Arness was new to Los Angeles, having headed west after recuperating from a war injury. A German machine gun had shattered the bones in his leg during the Battle of Anzio in Italy, back in '44. The wound had left him with a shorter limb, slight limp, and lifelong pain.
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Could James Arness ride a horse?

Mr. Arness was terribly shy and had almost no training as an actor. A wartime leg wound made it painful for him to mount a horse. But he became the best-known tin star of his era, portraying the towering, weathered marshal for 20 years, from 1955 to 1975.
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Who died first Peter Graves or James Arness?

Peter Graves passed away only one year before his older brother James Arness. Peter Graves died on March 14, 2010 while James Arness died on June 3, 2011. Passed away on March 14, 2010, just four days before his 84th birthday. Before he was a successful actor, he worked in a variety of jobs, such as cabdriver.
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Who turned down the role of Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke?

Bond's wife Polly Bond (aka Polly Ellis), a former model and Miss California, turned down the role of "Miss Kitty" on Gunsmoke (1955). His original role in the "Our Gang" comedies was as another member of the Gang. He was later recast as another character, the bully "Butch.".
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How old was Doc during Gunsmoke?

Milburn Stone was 51 years young when he first started playing Doc Adams on Gunsmoke in 1955. Little did he know it would be the last acting job he would ever need.
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Where was Gunsmoke filmed?

Gunsmoke Locations

Filming took place at Big Bear Lake, California, Iverson Ranch, Old Tucson Studios, Big Sky Movie Ranch, and Bronson Canyon (Griffith Park). These locations offered unique characteristics that contributed to the cinematic vision of the Western masterpiece.
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Why did Miss Kitty and Matt never kiss on Gunsmoke?

They knew that if he kissed her, the next time he better kiss her twice, show a little more passion.” As James Arness told the Archive of American Television, “I think they felt that… you could only go so far with it and then you'd have to change the character and nature of the show, so they kept it in that groove.
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How much did Amanda Blake make per episode on Gunsmoke?

When Gunsmoke first premiered in 1955, Amanda Blake's initial salary per episode was around $1,000. However, as the show gained popularity and secured its place as a television classic, Blake's salary gradually increased. By the time the series ended in 1975, she was earning an impressive $12,000 per episode.
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