Arness played supporting roles opposite Wayne in 1950s movies like Big Jim McLain, Hondo, Island in the Sky and The Sea Chase. Generous Duke even had him star in fast-paced Western Gun the Man Down for his Batjac production company.

Why did John Wayne turn down Gunsmoke?

Originally, John Wayne was offered the role but turned it down because he had no interest in committing to a weekly TV series. If he had accepted the part, it's incredibly unlikely the series would have ever run that long, and more TV movies of "Gunsmoke" probably would have hit the airwaves instead.

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.

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.

Who turned down the role of Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke?

But that was the reasoning behind Polly Bond's decision to refuse the part of Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke. The former Polly Ellis had recently married Tommy Bond, a former child actor most famous for playing "Butch" on The Little Rascals.

♦Western Classics♦ 'Quincannon, Frontier Scout' (1956) Tony Martin, Peggie Castle

Did John Wayne like Katharine Hepburn?

John Wayne found Katharine Hepburn to be very feminine and called her “a man's woman”. They had a special on screen chemistry that was apparent to everyone. He called her Sister.

Why did Burt Reynolds quit Gunsmoke?

Reynolds left Gunsmoke to pursue a career in movies, which ultimately led him to become an iconic movie star.

Why and when did Festus leave 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.

What kind of person was James Arness?

James Arness was the quiet type while he was away from his character, Marshal Matt Dillon. His Gunsmoke character was known for his strong moral code, sense of justice, and fairness, but off-screen Arness was known to limit personal appearances and interviews.

Did Festus ever have a girlfriend on Gunsmoke?

MacRae was also cast multiple times on the long-running Gunsmoke, appearing once in the role of Fanny in the 1962 episode "Half-Straight" and then, between 1962 and 1965, appearing four times as April, the girlfriend of Festus Haggen, one of the series' main characters.

What was the relationship between James Arness and Peter Graves?

James Arness and his family were Methodists. Arness' younger brother was actor Peter Graves. Peter used the stage name "Graves", a maternal family name. Arness attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis.

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.

How old was Doc on Gunsmoke when he passed away?

The famous actor died in 1980 in La Jolla at the age of 75 from a heart attack. Stone was born Hugh Milburn Stone in Burrton, Kan., on July 5, 1904, in Harvey County where the Milburn Stone Theatre was later erected in his name. According to Beverly Schmitz Glass, Ph.

How come Doc left Gunsmoke?

The real reason Milburn Stone was absent was that he had heart bypass surgery during the offseason and was still recovering. Stone fell ill shortly after shooting was complete for season 16 of Gunsmoke. He suffered a heart attack and learned he needed surgery.

Who was John Wayne's favorite leading lady?

Maureen O'Hara became the Queen of Technicolor and John Wayne's favorite leading lady.

What did Katharine Hepburn say about working with John Wayne?

Hepburn called him out about his behavior.

She is said to have told him (via Express), "I'm glad I didn't know you when you had two lungs, you must have been a real [expletive]. Losing a hip has mellowed me, but you!" Wayne had one of his lungs removed following a cancer diagnosis.

How many babies did Doc deliver on Gunsmoke?

In this episode the audience learns that Doc Adams has delivered 1000 babies.

Where was Gunsmoke filmed?

The television series of Gunsmoke ran from 1955 to 1975 and is said to be one of the longest running prime-time shows on television. There were 635 episodes and many of the outdoor scenes for this show were shot in Johnson Canyon near Kanab, Utah.

Why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke?

Amanda Blake chose to leave Gunsmoke voluntarily. She was a heavy smoker and had surgery for cancer in 1977. She also lived in Phoenix and commuted those 19 years to Los Angeles for the production. With her declining health, the commute became difficult.

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.

How old was Doc Adams when he started 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.

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.

What religion was James Arness?

He was raised as a Methodist. Arness attended John Burrows Grade School, Washburn High School and West High School in Minneapolis. Despite “being a poor student and skipping many classes”, he graduated from high school in June 1942. He then enlisted in the United States Army to serve in World War II.

Did James Arness ever get married in real life?

Following the aforementioned "Gunsmoke" TV movies (the last in 1994, when Arness was 71), Arness basically retired. His marriage to Virginia Chapman ended in divorce in 1960. They had three children, one of whom, Jenny Lee, committed suicide in 1975. Arness subsequently married Janet Surtrees in 1978.