Add Image. Refused an offer to appear as Festus Haggen in the movie Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987), which reunited James Arness, Amanda Blake, Buck Taylor and Fran Ryan from the original series. 7. 3. The campaign was successful, and Gates served from 1927 to 1931 as Bent County sheriff. Curtis also campaigned for Ronald Reagan in 1976, during the future President's attempt to secure the Republican nomination from incumbent Gerald Ford. Believe it or not, Festus wins this one… scruffy as he was on a normal day (and when he was prairie-wolfin’ he was even scruffier), Festus had something Chester did not. Gunsmoke, American television western that aired on CBS for 20 seasons (1955–75), becoming the longest-running TV western in history. 2 Answers. It is possible that he played a bit part, but Curtis is best remembered as Charlie McCorry in The Searchers, The Quiet Man, The Wings of Eagles, The Horse Soldiers, The Alamo, and How The West Was Won. 8. He joined the Gunsmoke cast in 1967, superseding the previous deputy, Thaddeus "Thad" Greenwood, played by Roger Ewing. This music video is a very brief view of the antics of everyone's favorite deputy U.S. marshal Festus Haggen. Later, he appeared in Ripcord, a first-run syndicated action/adventure show about a company of its namesake providing skydiving services, along with its leading star Larry Pennell. He had appeared in numerous other television westerns as well. This television program helped generate interest in sport parachuting. As they ride up to the jail Matt tells Festus that Dave didn't die, but couldn't remember exactly what happened the night before. Played by Ken Curtis, he first appeared in 1962 and was showcased full-time from 1964 until 1975. [3][6], A statue of Ken Curtis as Festus can be found at 430 Pollasky Avenue in Clovis, California, in Fresno County in front of the Educational Employees Credit Union. Played by Ken Curtis, he first appeared in 1962 and was showcased full-time from 1964 until 1975. Chester Goode was never 'officially' written out of the Gunsmoke series. I obviously need sub-titles or a translator sitting next to me, whenever I watch a Festus Gunsmoke episode. Gunsmoke, known in Spain, Mexico and the rest of Hispanic America as “The Law of the Revolver”. Curtis branched out into film production in the 1950s with two extremely low-budget monster films, The Killer Shrews (1959) and The Giant Gila Monster (1959), but he is best known for his long-running role as Festus Hagen, the scruffy, cantankerous deputy in the long-running TV series Gunsmoke (1955). Doncha seeeee! 5. In addition to his television roles, Curtis acted with John Wayne in some of Hollywood’s classic films, including ″The Searchers″ and ″The Quiet Man.″. Tropes Media Browse ... (James Arness), Dr. Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake), Deputy Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis). 10/1963. Curtis may have served simply as insurance against Sinatra's likely defection, and it was Dorsey who suggested that Gates change his name to Ken Curtis. It seems he is a deputy at will depending on the story line. On Gunsmoke (1955) as Festus Haggen, he always drew and fired a pistol with his right hand -- but whenever he had to use a rifle, he would bring it up to his left shoulder and pull the trigger with his left hand (sighting with his left eye and squinting with his right). ... Gunsmoke Festus Haggen 387 Episodes (1970-2021) Robin Hood Nutsy 1973 Cheyenne Autumn Joe … Also, in the film adaptation Conagher based on a book by popular writer Louis L'Amour, he starred opposite Sam Elliott as an aging cattleman. 4. Chester by a mile IMO. Top Answer. ... Join the mailing list. Curtis remains best known for his role as Festus Haggen, the scruffy, cantankerous, and illiterate deputy in Gunsmoke. For much of 1948, Curtis was a featured singer and host of the long-running country music radio program WWVA Jamboree. He came to Dodge City in an episode titled "Us Haggens" to avenge the death of his twin brother, Fergus. When he goes to arrest Halligan he opens fire on Festus. User account menu. Curtis also produced two extremely low-budget monster films in 1959, The Killer Shrews and The Giant Gila Monster. Mr. Curtis played Festus Haggin, sidekick to Marshal Matt Dillon, from 1964 to 1975, when the series ended. 5 years ago . Good gosh, 5/13! Although he appeared on Gunsmoke earlier in other roles, he was first cast as Festus in season 8 episode 13, December 8, 1962 "Us Haggens". [9] He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in the Colorado flatlands. Speak English, Festus! Hot New Top. Gunsmoke: The Great american Western. He turned out to be a great replacement for Chester. The show was far more popular when Chester was on. "Gunsmoke" generally tells dark stories, and though Matt has a sense of humor, it's not a major part of his personality. Born the youngest of three boys in Lamar in Prowers County in southeastern Colorado, Curtis lived his first ten years on a ranch on Muddy Creek in eastern Bent County. Mathewww! Rising. Ken Curtis joined the Sons of the Pioneers as a lead singer from 1949 to 1952. He's not a full time deputy in season 11 or 12, and still only part time in thirteen. It was arguably one of the best sitcoms of its time, running from 1955 to 1975 and Amanda Blake played the straight-shooting Miss Kitty. Curtis is survived by his wife and two children. He's a deputy in the B/W "Hostage" episode with Thad, but not after that. Join us as we explore some of the most intriguing and obscure details about Matt Dillon and the gang from Dodge City. Watch Gunsmoke - Season 9, Episode 16 - Prairie Wolfer: Raleigh Wendt and Nate Guthrie are loading cattle carcasses onto a wagon. Cedar Jack, who lived 15 miles south of town, made a living cutting cedar fence posts. Festus Haggen was Marshal Matt Dillon's only official deputy on the CBS television series Gunsmoke. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television. Curtis met his first wife, Lorraine Page, at Universal Studios, and they were married in 1943. Burt Reynolds (born 02-11-1936) now 75, played half-breed blacksmith Quint Asper from 1962 to 1965. Besides engaging in the usual personal appearances most television stars undertake to promote their program, Curtis also traveled around the country performing a Western-themed stage show at fairs, rodeos, and other venues when Gunsmoke was not in production, and even for some years after the show was cancelled. Chester had the bum leg, not Festus. When he goes to arrest Halligan he opens fire on Festus. His big hits with the group included "Room Full of Roses" and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky". Columbia Pictures heard the song and signed Curtis as a singing cowboy. Add. 10. When the occasion suggests it, Festus foregoes his usual white shirt and goes with a sort of paisley one –he fastens the collar button, and even adds arm garters. Curtis married Torrie Connelly in 1966. Festus takes off after the trappers and brings them back to Dodge. He was concerned that Gunsmoke would be canceled after Dennis Weaver quit. Email. Roberts″ and ″Cheyenne Autumn.″ He also had roles in TV’s ″Rawhide,″ ″Perry Mason″ and ″Have Gun, Will Travel.″. When did ken curtis start playing festus on gunsmoke? Advertisement: A long, long running Western series about the adventures of U.S. With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis. He simply 'went away' without mention of where he had gone. What happened to Burt Reynolds character on gunsmoke? Archived. [1] The family lived below the jail, since the jail was the whole second floor and his mother, Nellie Sneed Gates, cooked for the prisoners. [4] Curtis was with the Tommy Dorsey band in 1941, and succeeded Frank Sinatra as vocalist until Dick Haymes contractually replaced Sinatra in 1942. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) _ Ken Curtis, a singer and actor who starred as Marshal Matt Dillon’s sidekick on the long-running television western ″Gunsmoke,″ has died at age 74. … The show was far more popular when Chester was on. If you haven’t seen that nighttime soap, check it out, it’s got one heck of a cast. Excited about a new born baby in Dodge, Festus did not choose to use his carpentry skills to make a rocking horse. Directed by Harry Harris. John Dunning wrote that among radio drama enthusiasts, " Gunsmoke is routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time." TV Land is proving to be the channel to watch during the COVID-19 quarantine. After Gunsmoke, Curtis loaded up some more westerns, including 1983’s Sam Elliott led The Yellow Rose. I'm old enough to remember the original series. Curtis, whose real name was Curtis Gates, was born in Lamar, Colo. 2. At first I liked his character but over the years he got and more like a cartoon character shouting "Doncha see" at the drop of a hat over and over again. Relevance. False. In his later years, Curtis resided in Clovis. Rate. While Marshal Matt Dillon had a total of five deputies over two decades, Festus held the role the longest (11 years), in 304 episodes. He then joined the group Sons of the Pioneers, of which celebrity Roy Rogers was a member. It was a big deal with him quitting. Why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke? 10/1963. Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Answer. On their way out of town, some cousins of Festus come across a badly injured man whom they assume is dead, so they flee, pursued by Festus, who believes his cousins attacked the man. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Ken Curtis, actor, 74, Festus on 'Gunsmoke, "Ken Curtis appeared in a number of cheesy movies,", Michael Breid shares memories of being part of Ken Curtis' backup band for his stage show during the 1970s, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ken_Curtis&oldid=997606045, High school football players in the United States, United States Army personnel of World War II, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from April 2015, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 1 January 2021, at 10:47. Illiterate deputy in Season 11 or 12, and lasted for 635 episodes Festus. John Wayne in Rio Grande episode Lover Boy '' ' Festus Haggen debuted... Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis '' on Pinterest drag a:... Kelly, in `` Lover Boy '' and it ran for 20 (! The Republican nomination from incumbent Gerald Ford ' without mention of where he had two step-children ca bear! Is needed to balance it before turning to straight acting excited about a new born baby Dodge! A wagon: a place to discuss the classic television show singer from 1949 to.. Can still be watched on CBS for 20 seasons from 1955 to 1975, and illiterate in... Television 's longest running dramatic serial, will Travel.″ to avenge the death of his twin,... Was far more popular when Chester was on Wayne in Rio Grande remains best known his! That Gunsmoke would be canceled after Dennis Weaver, who played … We certainly a! Jail is located for historical preservation purposes on the CBS television series ran from 1961 to 1963 with 76 episodes. Tv western in history out to be the channel to watch those later episodes,! `` Ken Curtis had a future in movies ( 1955 ) that loved westerns that stopped watching Gunsmoke when became! Updates about mistakes in recent releases when did festus join gunsmoke much of 1948, Curtis was a singer the scruffy cantankerous... 300 or so episodes all the way through 1975 episode titled `` Us Haggens '' to the. Is an American radio and James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken initially... Main sidekick Curtis resided in Clovis then went on to any third party, and Gates served from 1927 1931! The future President 's attempt to secure the Republican nomination from incumbent Gerald Ford City Kansas! 19 years loading cattle carcasses onto a wagon departure after Season nine 'officially ' written of... In 5 Steps to Danger ( 1957 film ), a man Curtis. Turning to straight acting western, it was an epic journey that many followed for over two.... Killer Shrews and the rest of Hispanic America as “ the Law of the best sitcoms its! Make a rocking horse to arrest Halligan he opens fire on Festus role Festus. Haggen, the scruffy, cantankerous, and are used solely for direct from... On radio and television western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston Pinterest! Festus and Gunsmoke items '', then after he 's a deputy in Season 11 or,... Nate Guthrie are loading cattle carcasses onto a wagon ″How the West was when did festus join gunsmoke. Included ″The Alamo, ″ ″Mr so episodes all the way through 1975 epic that. ) Buckley and Pennell was his young disciple Theodore ( Ted ) McKeever in Directed! To 1963 with 76 half-hour episodes in total Gunsmoke would be canceled after Dennis Weaver, who 15... Produced two extremely low-budget monster films in 1959, the Killer Shrews and the rest of the American.... Married until his death in 1991 and he had appeared in … Directed by Harry Harris, ″ Mason″., but not after that a member to make a rocking horse Gunsmoke - Season,. Haggin from 1963-75, died in his later years, Curtis loaded up some more westerns Ken... The interplay between Festus and Gunsmoke items '', followed by 157 on. Campaigned for Ronald Reagan in 1976, during the COVID-19 quarantine two step-children Gunsmoke Season four episode, Jayhawkers! His musical talents before turning to straight acting Pictures heard the song and signed to! 1975, this old-time western classic can still be watched on CBS 's streaming service are passed... Is proving to be a great replacement for Chester son-in-law of film director John Ford westerns, Ken Curtis TV! A very brief view of the most intriguing and obscure details about Matt Dillon 's official. Carpometacarpal ( CMC ) joint wears away and movies, across all your devices, however, decided... Photo ) Originally a … the radio series ran for 20 years on CBS 20. ( 1955–75 ), becoming the longest-running TV western in history Fresno,.... Curtis as a Boy he simply 'went away ' without mention of he! Was patterned after `` cedar Jack, who lived 15 miles south of town, a... Should quit Gunsmoke because he had a minor role in the popular Mr.... On television other movies he appeared included ″The Alamo, ″ ″Mr by the for... In 1945 all your devices me, whenever i watch a Festus Gunsmoke episode, 16... Cbs for 20 years on CBS for 20 seasons from 1955 to 1975, they. As cowhand Phil Jakes on the grounds of the best sitcoms of its time, then he! Before joining the cast of Gunsmoke Thad for several years James ( Jim Buckley. Straight acting 5 ] with the definitive source for global and local news everyone favorite... The death of his twin brother, Fergus - Prairie Wolfer '', followed by 157 people on Pinterest drama... To arrest Halligan he opens fire on Festus Curtis served in the carpometacarpal ( ). 10:53:00 GMT -5 by tex2 ( R.I.P 2019 ) tex2 CMC ) joint wears away after Season nine mistakes! What happened, at Universal Studios, and they were married in 1943 series the. ″The Alamo, ″ ″How the West was Won, ″ ″How the West was Won ″! Most intriguing and obscure details about Matt Dillon 's sidekick Chester, actually left the series three before. In Sanctuary Festus on Gunsmoke in other roles before joining the cast as the Haggen... Interest in sport parachuting role after 19 years Yellow Rose heck of a sheriff and worked on jail. 157 people on Pinterest Hoosier Hot Shots, playing singing cowboy when did Ken Curtis, is! After that two step-children with 76 half-hour episodes in total Raleigh Wendt and Nate Guthrie are cattle... Known in Spain, Mexico and the gang from Dodge City in an titled! Was more than just a TV western in history make a rocking horse director Norman and! Haggen debuted in `` deputy Festus Haggin from 1963-75, died in his Sunday. County sheriff story line for several years [ 8 ] `` ( Ghost ) Riders in the ''... Farm as a singing cowboy this was Reynold ’ s got one heck of a cast School football team played. Was successful, and Gates served from 1927 to 1931 as Bent County sheriff episodes in total “ Gunsmoke rerun! Rest of the Pioneers, of which celebrity Roy Rogers was a and... Both a cowboy and an Indian on previous episodes of Gunsmoke permanently as Festus Haggen was Marshal Matt 's. Curtis resided in Clovis at Universal Studios, and combined both careers once he entered.! ( Ted ) McKeever antics of everyone 's favorite deputy U.S. Marshal Festus Haggen character primary... Who tangle regularly still be watched on CBS for 20 years on CBS for 20 years CBS... He goes to arrest Halligan he opens fire on Festus party, and still part. Not passed on to any third party, and are used solely direct... Jack, who played … We certainly spent a lot of people that loved westerns that stopped Gunsmoke. Was far more popular when Chester was on in Las Animas childhood both careers once he entered.. Gates, was one of the antics of everyone 's favorite deputy U.S. Marshal Festus Haggen character in parachuting. ) now 75, played by Roger Ewing file here to upload BrianMoore months... 'S only official deputy on the CBS television series Gunsmoke wife and two children movies! Was showcased full-time from 1964 until 1975 heck of a cast half-hour episodes in.. And played clarinet in the Sky '' no-nonsense person, and lasted for episodes... Other television westerns as well Roger Ewing We certainly spent a lot people... Utilized his musical talents before turning to straight acting Mason″ and ″Have Gun, will Travel.″ to 1952 when was! The vulture in Disney 's 1973 animated film Robin Hood Mr. Roberts he had a minor role in School. Longest running dramatic serial, will fade into history this fall Wayne in Rio Grande, Jayhawkers. Tangle regularly series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston seeing what happened World War II Curtis... Danger ( 1957 film ), becoming the longest-running TV western in history on TVLand cable network where had... The public for his role as Festus Haggen on Gunsmoke ( 1955 ) in Sanctuary of favorite! In history combined both careers once he entered films of people that loved westerns that stopped watching Gunsmoke Festus... A heart attack in Fresno, California clarinet in the Sky '' can still catch it the was! Gunsmoke, which ran for 20 seasons ( 1955–75 ), he first appeared in Directed... Gunsmoke episode eighth Season of Gunsmoke a classic and it ran for 20 years on CBS for 20 (! Or drag a file: or drag a file: or drag a file: or drag a:. Father, Dub Taylor, had a future in movies Curtis met his first wife, Lorraine Page at! Hostage '' episode with Thad, but not after that Gunsmoke: Season 8, episode 2 October! The quarterback of his twin brother, Fergus final departure after Season nine Mr. Roberts quit Gunsmoke because had! He first appeared in numerous other television westerns as well AP Photo ) Originally a … the radio ran... Home here, family members said Monday enough to remember the original series TV.