Meet the 9 Main Characters on Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke remains the longest-running Western series in television history, running for 20 seasons between Sep. 10, 1955, and March 31, 1975. There were 635 episodes, with 402 lasting an hour and the other 233 only 30 minutes. Of the 402 that were 60 minutes, 176 were broadcast in black and white, 226 were in color.

The historic series is set around Dodge City, Kansas, in the late 1800s, the post-Civil War era with its share of brawls, arguments, robberies and threats. It’s centered around the main character Marshal Matt Dillon and how he enforces law and order in the city.

While famous guest stars like Ed Asner, Bette Davis, Richard Dreyfus, Barbara Eden, Sam Elliott, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster and Ron Howard all appeared in at least one episode over the two decades, there are only nine people who are considered main characters.

Here is an in-depth breakdown of those characters, including the number of episodes in which they appeared.

Matt Dillon (James Arness): Any Gunsmoke list has to begin with the main man, who appeared in every one of the 635 episodes. You can’t have Gunsmoke without Arness and his portrayal of Dillon. His job was to keep the town safe and he used his judgment and common sense to catch criminals. Dillon was fair and honest yet not afraid to back down during the eye of the storm. Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot instead of an actor, but his poor eyesight and 6-foot-7 seven frame kept him from achieving his goal. He was, however, drafted into the Army in 1943 and a year later was severely wounded in his right leg during the Battle of Anzio in Italy. He was honorably discharged and turned to a career in entertainment. Ten years later he started his run with Gunsmoke and actually played the role of Dillon in five different decades—the 50s, 60s and 70s TV series, the film Gunsmoke: Return of Dodge in 1987 and four made-for-television films in the 1990s.

Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake): Blake played Long Branch Saloon owner Miss Kitty for 19 years (1955-74) and appeared in 425 episodes. She was not just another pretty face, but was both tough and lovely, a no-nonsense businesswoman and the most trustworthy friend you’d ever find. The soft spot in her heart belonged to Matt Dillon. Shooting Gunsmoke kept Blake busy, so she was not able to tackle many other bigger projects. She did, however, make several guest appearances alongside Alfred Hitchcock, Red Skelton and Dean Martin, as well as in popular shows like Tattletales, Match Game and The Love Boat. When Blake finally decided to leave Gunsmoke she said, “Nineteen years is a long time for someone to be stuck behind a bar.”

Doc Galen Adams (Milburn Stone): Aside from Arness, Stone appeared in the most episodes of anyone at 604. He was a main character for all 20 seasons and missed seven episodes in 1971 when he had heart surgery. His character Doc Adams was one of Matt’s most-trusted friends. Although he was the town physician he doubled as the veterinarian in Dodge City, too. Doc was a good listener and was always there to offer Matt advice. Stone received an Emmy for outstanding performance by an actor in a supporting role in 1968 for his role in Gunsmoke. He did not do much other work after he was done with series and died five years later, in 1980, at age 75.

Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver): Weaver played Goode for nine seasons (1955-64) and appeared in 290 episodes during his stint. Goode was Dillon’s high-strung assistant and although many considered him a deputy, he did not wear a badge or a gun. His job was to help around the jail and keep a clean office, but he always helped Dillon with whatever he needed. Weaver left the series because he was fearful of being typecast and losing other big opportunities. It turned out to be a wise choice as he appeared in 20 more films post-Gunsmoke, dozens of other television shows and even did voiceover work for an episode of The Simpsons animated series where he was aging Hollywood cowboy Buck McCoy.

Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis): Curtis picked up for Weaver, or in this case, Haggen picked up for Goode. Curtis had appeared in some episodes as other characters before Goode left but was considered a main character from 1964-75 when he permanently became Haggen. He was in 306 episodes when the series ended. Once Goode left, Haggen was Dillon’s official deputy even though he was a Tennessee mountain man who had a questionable reputation. Fun fact: Carroll O’Connor, of Archie Bunker fame, was guest star for two episodes of Gunsmoke. Years later, O’Connor starred in the TV series In the Heat of the Night and asked Curtis to guest star as a retired police detective.

Sam Noonan (Glenn Strange): Strange appeared in 222 episodes from 1961-1973 and it all started when Arness simply asked him when he was going to appear in an episode. “I like to work with big guys,” Arness said to Strange. During Gunsmoke’s sixth season Strange is credited as a saloon customer, then a year later he started as Noonan, a bartender. In 1972 Strange was diagnosed with lung cancer and worked as long as he could. He died in September 1973 and five episodes were broadcast with him until Nov. 26, 1973, with the episode titled, “The Hanging of Newly O’Brien.”

Quint Asper (Burt Reynolds): Reynolds only appeared in 50 episodes from 1962-65 but was considered one of the show’s main characters during its run. His first appearance was in Season 8, Episode 13 as Asper, who was was half white, half Comanche. Dillon saw good in Asper and was able to help integrate him into white society. He was a blacksmith and a part-time deputy. Asper vanished in Season 10 and there was never a mention of him until Season 12 when Festus Haggen said their latest blacksmith was the best they’ve had since Asper left town. Reynolds left to pursue a career in movies, which, of course, turned out well, starring in movies like The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit and The Cannonball Run, among others. He won two Golden Globe awards, one for the series Evening Shade and the other for the movie Boogie Nights.

Newly O’Brien (Buck Taylor): Taylor first appeared in Season 13 in 1967 and appeared in 103 episodes until the series ended in 1975. O’Brien was a gunsmith, who was a back-up deputy and a friend to Dillon. He was also studying to become a doctor with his uncle and, then later, with Doc Adams. Taylor was a talented gymnast in high school and went to the U.S. Olympic trials but failed to make the team for the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He then served two years in the U.S. Navy. Now he is an accomplished artist and sells watercolor and acrylic paintings of cowboys, Native Americans and horses. He is the official artist for many rodeos and state fairs, helping them to create intriguing promotional banners.

Thaddeus Greenwood (Roger Ewing): Of all the nine main characters, Ewing appeared in the fewest (36) during his run from 1965-67. Greenwood was the son of an Oklahoma deputy who came to Dodge City searching for vandals on behalf of his father , not realizing the warrant didn’t work in Kansas. When Ewing first started on Gunsmoke there was a contract dispute between Arness and CBS and it was thought that Ewing’s character could replace Arness if necessary. That dispute was resolved two years later and Ewing was written off the show. He also appeared on the television series’ Bewitched and Rawhide and retired from acting in 1972.

Meet the 9 Main Characters on Gunsmoke

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