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 actors on Gunsmoke 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.

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.

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.

GUNSMOKE (1955–1975) Cast THEN AND NOW 2023 Who Else Survives After 68 Years?

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.

How old was Matt Dillon from Gunsmoke when he died?

James Arness, who presided over the frontier town of Dodge City as television's most enduring western hero, the laconic, fair-minded and incorruptible Marshal Matt Dillon of the two-decade-long series “Gunsmoke,” died June 3 at his home in Los Angeles at 88.

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.

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 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.

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 female made the most guest appearances on Gunsmoke?

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

Did Festus ever have a girlfriend?

Multiple appearances on series

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.

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.

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.

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.

Did Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke smoke cigarettes?

Miss Blake, testifying in the same sultry voice that sounded from countless scenes at the smokey Long Branch saloon, showed little effects of her surgery. She said she had smoked two to three packs a day for 30 years. Not a lighted cigarette was in evidence in the crowded hearing room.

What happened to Amanda Blake after Gunsmoke?

The truth was her commute from Arizona to California was too much. She was tired and had declining health issues that made this choice right for her. As a result, Amanda semi-retired to her ranch in Arizona in 1974. After surviving oral cancer in 1977, Amanda went on to be an advocate for the American Cancer Society.

Was James Arness like Matt Dillon?

Unlike many television stars, Arness never took on too many characteristics of his most famous role, nor did Dillon become more like the actor. "As for the issue of the onscreen personality and the real person, there's no comparison, no way.

Did James Arness make a lot of money on Gunsmoke?

James Arness earned himself $1,200 per episode for playing Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke during its early years. Later, after the television show earned awards and gained more popularity, he negotiated his contract and started making $20,000 an episode. Today, this would have been around $150,000.

When did Burt Reynolds leave Gunsmoke?

Reynolds left Gunsmoke in 1965. He later said that being in that show was "the happiest period of my life. I hated to leave that show but I felt I had served my apprenticeship and there wasn't room for two leading men." He was cast in his first lead role in a film, the low-budget action film, Operation C.I.A. (1965).