In 1967, CBS decided to cancel Gunsmoke due to declining ratings, which reflected the fact that the Western genre was becoming increasingly out of favor with the public. 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.

Did Gunsmoke have an ending?

Gunsmoke ended after 20 seasons with a lackluster episode titled "The Sharecroppers." CBS had been trying to cancel Gunsmoke for years, ending the series with an underwhelming finale. Despite the strange ending, Gunsmoke went on to be revived with TV movies, keeping Marshal Dillon alive.

Did the cast of Gunsmoke get along?

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.

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 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.

The Controversial Scene That Took Gunsmoke Off The Air

Why did Miss Kitty quit 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.

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.

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 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 Burt Reynolds get along with the Gunsmoke cast?

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.

Did Stone and Arness get along?

Obviously, Arness straightened out and once the two actors were on the same wavelength, they got along just fine. In a later interview, Stone told TV Guide, "I spent the first two years on Gunsmoke despising Jim's lack of professionalism.

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.

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.

Did Chester and Festus ever meet?

But the changing of the guard really happened in the Season 9 episode titled "The Prairie Wolfer," where Chester and Festus actually appear together. In fact, this particular episode had appearances from Matt, Kitty, Doc, Chester, Festus, Sam and Quint.

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.

Are any actors from Gunsmoke still alive?

Summary. 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.

Why did John Wayne dislike James Arness?

Duke had set up an interview with Arness, hoping he would have time to play the small role of Houston in The Alamo. However, to his dismay, his old pal never turned up. The story goes that Wayne never really forgave him for the snub and Richard Boone was cast instead.

Why did James Arness limp in Gunsmoke?

During the invasion of Anzio, Italy in 1944, his right leg was shattered by machine-gun fire, resulting in his losing part of his foot. He was hospitalized for a year and underwent surgeries to correct his leg, which left a limp.

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 Doc Adams 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.

Why did the bartender Sam leave Gunsmoke?

Glenn Strange Left Gunsmoke Because Of His Declining Health

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.

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.

Did James Arness have a partner?

Personal life. Arness married Virginia Chapman in 1948, and adopted her son Craig (1946 – December 14, 2004). Arness and Chapman also had a son, Rolf (born February 18, 1952), and a daughter, Jenny Lee Arness (May 23, 1950 – May 12, 1975).

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.