How did festus die on gunsmoke

Curtis, who played deputy Festus Haggin fromdied in his sleep Sunday at his home here, family members said Monday. They said the cause of death was unknown.

Ken Curtis born Curtis Wain Gates ; [1] July 2, — April 28, [2] was an American actor and singer best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the western television series Gunsmoke. His first appearance as Festus was in season 8, episode 13, "Us Haggens", which debuted December 8, Curtis joined the cast of Gunsmoke permanently as Festus in "Prairie Wolfer", season 9 episode 16, which debuted January 18, This episode feautures the same title as a episode S13E In , the family moved to Las Animas , the county seat of Bent County, so that his father, Dan Sullivan Gates, could run for sheriff.

How did festus die on gunsmoke

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The New York Times. Read Today's E-edition. Festus' character was known, in part, for the nasally, twangy, rural accent which Curtis developed for the role, but which did not reflect Curtis' actual voice.

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Film producer A. Lyles said Monday his friend was 74 when he was found dead by his wife when she awoke in their Fresno-area home Sunday morning. The onetime big band vocalist had been in apparent good health, Lyles said, attending a rodeo in nearby Clovis on Saturday. The cause of death has not been determined. Born Curtis Gates in Bent County, in the dry lands of Colorado where his father was sheriff, he worked on the family ranch and at the town jail and studied saxophone in high school. He then joined the singing group Sons of the Pioneers. Survivors include his wife, Torrie, and her two children by a previous marriage, who ask that contributions in his name be made to the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills.

How did festus die on gunsmoke

Television series frequently undergo casting changes, as evidenced by Gunsmoke. Many viewers were familiar with Chester, a character featured in Gunsmoke from its beginning until A humorous yet loyal sidekick to Marshal Dillon, Chester provided much-needed comic relief while aiding law and order in Dodge City. Unfortunately in , Dennis Weaver decided to depart Gunsmoke to pursue other acting opportunities, leaving an empty spot behind him on screen — leading producers to scramble to cast Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen for Marshal Dillon as soon as they possibly could. But what exactly was behind his replacement and how has Festus contributed to its continued success? Dennis Weaver left Gunsmoke in due to a desire for personal reasons: to broaden his acting portfolio. It marked an end of an era, as Chester had become a beloved character among viewers of Gunsmoke. A casting search began for a new deputy Sheriff; Ken Curtis known for playing Festus Haggen on the predecessor show The Searchers , who was ultimately selected. Noting both actors brought unique traits and charm to their roles is key; Chester was particularly endearing as audiences took delight in his loyal, yet comical antics; Festus provided depth by adding both grit and humor, adding new storylines while keeping viewer interest intact. Festus was introduced into Gunsmoke without much difficulty; adjusting to an already established ensemble and fan base as well as finding an equilibrium of humor and drama was no simple task, however, Ken Curtis used his years of Western entertainment experience along with his impressive acting talents to successfully transition and find that balance, creating a character who resonated with audiences across America.

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Read Edit View history. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Retired Smith High principal lands new role with Philadelphia school district Heated seats. Buck Taylor's father, Dub Taylor , had a minor role in it. Curtis married Torrie Connelly in The John Ford Encyclopedia. Related to this story. In , he appeared as cowhand Phil Jakes on the Gunsmoke season four episode, "Jayhawkers". Retrieved February 10, This series ran from to with 76 half-hour episodes in total. Sign up! Ken Curtis joined the Sons of the Pioneers as a lead singer from to and again from to Wikimedia Commons.

Ken Curtis born Curtis Wain Gates ; [1] July 2, — April 28, [2] was an American actor and singer best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the western television series Gunsmoke. His first appearance as Festus was in season 8, episode 13, "Us Haggens", which debuted December 8,

They said the cause of death was unknown. American actor and singer — Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ken Curtis. Army from to He was featured in all three of the only films produced by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 's C. Breaking News Subscribe. Tools Tools. He joined the regular Gunsmoke cast in , superseding the previous deputy, Chester Goode, played by Dennis Weaver. Article Talk. A decade later, he returned to television in the short-lived Western series The Yellow Rose , in which he performed most of his scenes with Noah Beery, Jr. Marshall retired from Guilford County Schools on Feb. Curtis observed many times that Jack came to Las Animas, where he would often end up drunk and in Curtis' father's jail. Curtis then joined Shep Fields and His New Music, an all-reeds band that dispensed with a brass section. Authority control databases.