Although his character, Festus Haggen, was introduced to Gunsmoke (1955) in an episode called “Us Haggens,” in which he arrived in Dodge City to avenge the death of his twin brother, the fact that Festus had a twin was never again mentioned on the show.
How many different characters did Ken Curtis play on Gunsmoke?
Ken Curtis played 7 different characters on Gunsmoke!
What happened to Ken Curtis?
Ken Curtis, a singer and actor who played the scruffy deputy Festus on the television series “Gunsmoke,” died in his sleep on Sunday at his home. He was 74 years old. His death was attributed to natural causes, said A. C. Lyle, a producer at Paramount Studios.
Why does Festus call his mule Ruth?
On “Gunsmoke,” Festus had several mules and all were named Ruth, even the jacks (males). Here’s why: As a mule skinner in the Confederate Army, he took a mule named Ruth on a dangerous mission. When the mule died, Festus made a solemn promise that henceforth all of his mules would be named Ruth.
Who has the most guest appearances on Gunsmoke?
Woodward, whose mustachioed face illustrated the “Dirty Half-Dozen” article, guest-starred on Gunsmoke more than any other actor — 19 times, typically as the bad guy.
What was John Wayne’s net worth?
SANTA ANA, Calif., June 20 (AP) —John Wayne left an estate worth $6.85 million, but none of it will be going to his third wife, Pilar, from whom the actor separated in 1973, according to a will filed yesterday.
Who was the first black actor on Gunsmoke?
Jester Hairston was the first black actor to appear in the series.
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 the character Festus leave 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.
How did Gunsmoke end?
Answer: The last episode of “Gunsmoke” was not designed to be a series finale. The episode, “The Sharecroppers,” aired in 1975 and revolved around Deputy Festus Haggen, who accidentally shoots a man in the leg and then helps out at the man’s family farm.
Are any of the Gunsmoke cast 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 Chester from Gunsmoke walk with a limp?
Weaver told the Los Angeles Evening Citizen News in 1957 that he chose to limp with his right leg because his left leg was stronger. As a teen in high school, Weaver had set records in football and in track and field, and his left leg was the one he used to jump off with.
What is a mule skinner mean?
mule skinner in American English
noun. informal. a person who drives mules. [1865–70, Amer.] This word is first recorded in the period 1865–70.
What kind of horse did Festus ride?
Festus rode a long-eared mule named “Ruth.” “I watched that show a lot and always thought it would be so much fun to have my own mule,” said Marilyn Stromberg.
What gender was Festus’s mule on Gunsmoke?
Famous Americans who have ridden mules include Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill Cody, Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan and Ken Curtis in his character as Festus on the television show Gunsmoke. That mule, named Ruth, was actually a male.
What woman guest-starred the most on Gunsmoke?
Morgan Woodward, who guest-starred in a record 19 episodes of ‘Gunsmoke’
What was the best Gunsmoke episode?
- “Matt Gets It” Season one, episode one. …
- “The Killer” Season one, episode 28. …
- “Indian Scout” Season one, episode 23. …
- “Alarm at Pleasant Valley” Season one, episode 39. …
- “Sins of the Father” Season two, episode 17. …
- “Romeo” …
- “Love They Neighbor”
Did Marshall Dillon ever kiss Kitty?
Miss Kitty and Marshal Dillon kissed on TV in the late ’50s — but not on Gunsmoke.
What was Kitty’s net worth on Gunsmoke?
Amanda Blake net worth: Amanda Blake was an American actress who had a net worth of $500 thousand at the time of her death in 1989. Amanda Blake was born in Buffalo, New York in February 1929 and passed away in August 1989. Her best known role came starring as Kitty on the television series Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1974.
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.
Who did James Arness leave his money to?
After seeing how much joy the kids got out of the camp, Arness decided one day — completely out of the blue — to donate all of his land to those kids, a property worth $2 million. “It was a very ecumenical act of philanthropy by Mr. Arness, who is not himself Jewish,” Dr. Max W.
What was Festus’s brother’s name on Gunsmoke?
To avenge the death of his twin brother Fergus, savvy plainsman Festus Haggen forms an initially uneasy alliance with Matt to track down his murderous uncle “Black Jack” Haggen.
