. Note Docsreal name was Dr. Calvin Moore. Doc writes that he was so distraught over the death of a young girl under his care, who was suffering from an illness he didn't know how to treat, that he has gone East to re-enter medical school and catch up on something other than surgery for bullet wounds. Its been 40+ years since I was last involved in show biz, and I have appreciated my anonymity all these years, he said. Airing from 1955 to 1975, Gunsmoke starred Arness alongside Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone, and Amanda Blake. Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone, and Amanda Blake in "Gunsmoke" in 1960. If you were a fan of the popular western showGunsmokefrom 1955 until 1975, then its likely you remember the beloved character Doc Adams, who was played by actor Milburn Stone (and Howard McNear on the radio). It was as Gunsmoke was going into its ninth consecutive year on television. The Sharecroppers Howard McNear , the radio Doc Adams, was replaced by Stone, who gave the role a harder edge consistent with his screen portrayals. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. The production made sure that all three characters (Dillon, Chester, and Festus . What Did Ncuti Gatwa Say After Being Announced as the New Time Lord in Doctor Who. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In 1939 he appeared in When Tomorrow Comes as head busboy (uncredited). However, in 1971, he was forced to temporarily leave the show for just a handful of episodes because he had to undergo heart surgery after suffering a heart attack. The TV show Gunsmoke was a classic and it ran for 20 years on CBS. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. For the cast members of Gunsmoke, they had ended up spending a lot of time with each other over the years. Now, why dont you go out there someplace, look around, and buy yourself a lot?, Oh, well, its nitrous oxide. I'm 71 now and love watching all the re-runs even after watching the originals as a child growing up. They dont make shows like that anymore. During the on-air of this series, Stone had undergone heart bypass surgery after he had a massive heart attack. Buck was an American Quarter Horse (Big buckskin). Both James Arness and Milburn Stone portrayed their characters for the 20 consecutive years the show was on. I don't know for how long, but it will not be forever. In 1971. While it was also rumored that Dennis chose the limp to accompany his country accent, to make him stand out. Hugh Milburn "Milly" Stone was born on 5 July 1904, in Harvey County, Kansas USA, and was an actor, probably best known for his work in the CBS western television show entitled "Gunsmoke", in which he played Dr. Galen "Doc" Adams. When and why did Milburn Stone leave Gunsmoke? El Camino Memorial Sorrento Valley, San Diego, California, United States. It is an accomplishment that few actors have come close to. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. On the back of Gunsmokes success, CBS released a spin-off series called Dirty Sally. Pat Hingles character, Dr. Chapman, was written out of the show on his return. Well she did die from AIDS. The network, CBS, knew what it had on its hands after its 1955 premiere and milked it for 20 seasons before suddenly . To tackle the condition, he agreed with the producers to start shooting all of his scenes for an episode in just one day so that he had more time to rest. One actor who probably had the most notable cameo on Gunsmoke before embarking on a fairly successful career in Hollywood was Gary Busey, of all people. He ventured into vaudeville in the late 1920s, and in 1930, he was half of the Stone and Strain song-and-dance act. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Stone played Dr. Blake in the 1943 film Gung Ho! According to the Birmingham News newspaper at the time, Milburn received bypass grafts to his coronary arteries, in the hopes that they would improve blood supply to his heart. To make up for the lost role, an actor . The couple had a daughter, Shirley Stone. The loss was so great that Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty, couldnt handle it, and was written out of the show the following year. Character actor Milburn Stone, the beloved "Doc Adams" on TV's long-running western classic Gunsmoke (1955), was born in Kansas on July 5, 1904. Miss Kitty and Milburn Stone as . Why did Pat Hingle replace Milburn Stone on Gunsmoke? With James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis. The last episode of the TV series is The Sharecroppers and was aired on March 31, 1975. I am not one to seek fame & recognitionI am a very private person and not experienced in todays world of celebrity.'. As of March 2018, Matt Groenings show has released 632 episodes, so it is only three away from equalling Gunsmokes record. . Doc writes that he was so distraught over the death of a young girl under his care, who was suffering from an i Read allKitty finds and reads a letter from Doc Adams, who has disappeared from Dodge. The Neuhaus Belgian Chocolate Factory is the closest thing to heaven to countless chocolate Ramen is one food that has quickly become popular around the world, with every place giving its own With the holiday season here, many are looking for wonderful dessert recipes to enjoy. In 1946, Milburn portrayed Gerald King in Danger Woman, a film that was directed by Lewis D. Collins. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Gunsmoke is still the best show on TV . Stone appeared in 604 episodes through 1976, often shown sparring in a friendly manner with co-stars Dennis Weaver and Ken Curtis, who played, respectively, Chester Goode and Festus Haggen. In fact, thanks to all its stellar ingredients, Gunsmoke became one of the longest-running westerns, even beating Bonanza. Ken Curtis and Milburn Stone in "Gunsmoke" in 1974. However, they changed Kittys character in the show in order to make it more family-friendly. Encore Westerns will give Marshal Dillon, Miss Kitty, Chester, Doc and Festus a six-gun salute in January, when the channel will begin airing Gunsmoke again. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I really don't know much about him, because he's a private person. Doc tough at times, strong pillar, big . She was a dance hall hostess. One day I was doing that and he was on the sidelines watching and he said God dam*mit Chuck Ive never seen anything so unprofessional in my life. He went stomping around the place and he said afterward, I thought Jim was gonna come over and hit me,' Arness said in the interview. That's something we imaging Milburn Stone didn't love. She is just someone Matt has to visit every once in a while, he said. He was featured in the Tailspin Tommy adventure serial for Monogram Pictures. So, why did Milburn Stone leave Gunsmoke for a while? For his contribution to the television industry, Milburn Stone has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. What is the difference between HSI and Hscei? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Your email address will not be published. After he was done with a close-up and it switched to someone else he would stand there with an ice cream cone. In 20 seasons, James Arnesss character only kissed one person The Waltons very own, Michael Learned. He had gone on to marry another Kansas girl, Jane Garrison, although the pair divorced a year later. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. One of the only remaining cast members who is still alive, the actor who played Quint Asper for 50 episodes during the 60s has gone on to star in some of the most iconic movies of all time. One key detail that clearly demonstrated the impact that Gunsmoke had on society at the time was its undeniably good ratings. He was last seen in Gunsmoke in episode 24 of the fourth season. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. For the whole 20 years the series was on the air from 1955 until 1975, he appeared in an impressive 605 of 635 episodes, according to IMBD. While William Shatner, DeForest Kelley and James Doohan each made a cameo in one episode each, it was the late, great Leonard Nimoy who appeared the most, with four episodes to his name. Why did Doc leave 'Gunsmoke'? Chester was now suddenly gone at the beginning of the 11th season, which was weird because they never explained in the show what happened to or why Chester had in fact left (Weaver had left to pursue other acting opportunities such as McCloud ), he was then replaced over time by Festus Haggen. Classic TV Western 'Gunsmoke' enjoyed a 20-year run, three of which featured Burt Reynolds, who looked back fondly on the show. In the present day, $600,000 is the equivalent of $1.8 million. Eventually, Stone became part of a vaudeville song-and-dance team called Stone and Train.. Despite very small differences in opinion, the cast had remained friendly during the shows run. I totally agree and my wife and I are of the same age and believe me Gunsmoke is definitely worth the monthly cable fees. Matt Dillion is definitely America's marshall! She was also a board member of the Humane Society of the United States. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Although he was from Missouri, Dennis Weaver didnt really have a country accent and believed that this would dent his chances when auditioning for the role of Chester. This unceremonious ending also perplexed the main cast, especially because they had no idea that the 20th season was going to be the final one. It was . With the end of Gunsmoke also came Milburns retirement to his ranch, whereafter he got awarded an honorary doctorate in Dodge City, Kansas, from St. Mary of the Plains College. What are 6 of Charles Dickens classic novels? He even portrayed the character after the TV show had already begun, carrying on the role until 1961. These include the likes of Deliverance, The Longest Yard,Smokey and the Bandit, and Boogie Nights, to name a few. Milburn Stone was an American television and film actor who became famous for his role as Dr. Galen Doc Adams in the TV series Gunsmoke.. For the whole 20 years the series was on the air from 1955 until 1975, he appeared in an impressive 605 of 635 episodes, according toIMBD. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? Milburn went to Los Angeles in the 1930s to begin his acting career. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Playing the character Harve Daley in one of the shows final episodes in 1975, Gary Busey made history when he became the final character to ever be killed off on Gunsmoke. It developed into a serious issue and prevented Arness from working the hours that he had grown accustomed to over the years. It was reported that the producers told him to do it to appear shorter than he actually was. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake - @Getty. It is a reference to Dodge City, Kansas, which is when the show is set. On the radio . Similar to the late iconic actor Milburn, one of his co-stars on Gunsmoke also had an extraordinary career. His first two credited roles came in the two 1936 feature films, China Clipper and The Three Mesquiteers.. However, Gunsmoke earned him most of his wealth, appearing in 605 episodes. Eventually, the producers gave Milburn Stone the opportunity to choose his own name for Doc, as he knew his character the best. Kelsey played Dr. Frasier Crane for 20 years, but on two different sitcoms, Cheers and . In April 2019, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Ron Howard announced the news of his fathers passing. Stone, who played "Doc" Adams on the CBS Western drama, offers some thoughts about Arness. Consequentially, he took the show and had it fitted into the time slot that Gilligans Island usually was Mondays at 8 pm. Milburn Stone only missed six episodes, due to a heart attack. In 1953, Stone appeared as Charlton Heston's sidekick in Arrowhead, a Western also featuring Brian Keith and Katy Jurado. Gunsmoke put actors such as Milburn Stone and James Arness in the spotlight. Milburn Stone Wiki Biography. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Harry Knowles Net Worth | Wife (Patricia Cho Jones), Phoebe Combes Net Worth | Biography & Age. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Dennis Weaver, James Arness, and Milburn Stone @Getty. This time, he tried very hard by putting on a country accent. Its also an intoxicant, and pretty dangerous if you get too much of it., Dr. The switch happened in season nine, in the episode "The Prairie Wolfer.". Arness starred in all five reunion movies. Kitty finds and reads a letter from Doc Adams, who has disappeared from Dodge. How did they keep beer cold in the Old West? A heart attack in 1971 had Milburn take temporary leave for health reasons, but he returned and stayed until the show ended in 1975. The show, which ran for just one season, starred Jeanette Nolan, who originally starred alongside Orson Welles in 1948s Macbeth, as well as the show The Virginian. She also starred in "Gunsmoke--Return to Dodge," a movie-of . [note 1][13] In 1981, Stone was inducted posthumously into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In 1962, Dennis Weaver decided to leave Gunsmoke, one of the top tv shows in the country. At different stages, you will find the actors who played Kirk, Spock, Scotty, and Bones in a variety of episodes throughout Gunsmokes run. He would also receive a painting of his Gunsmoke character, Doc Adams, from artist and painter Gary Hawk. What episode did Doc Adams leave Gunsmoke? Doc Adams didn't leave Gunsmoke by choice despite the stereotypes that actors leave shows over drama behind the scenes. While the rest of the cast missed episodes from time to time, the showrunners were adamant that Matt Dillon appeared in every single episode. Nellie Morrison died in 1937, at age 30. Why did Doc Adams leave Gunsmoke for awhile? In 1939, Stone played Stephen Douglas in the movie Young Mr. Lincoln with Ward Bond and Henry Fonda. Blake was born in Buffalo, New York on February 20, 1929. He could be the Grandpa I never met, yep ! He called him Galen. The show ran for 20 years, a time during which Milburn became synonymous with his character, Doc Adams. Milburn Stone replaced Howard McNear in the role of Doctor Galen Doc Adams. That is the way you get through all of those years. There, he graduated from Burrton High School, where he was active in the drama club, played basketball, and sang in a barbershop quartet.Stone's brother, Joe Stone, says their uncle Fred Stone, was a versatile actor who appeared on Broadway and in circuses). When it came on my brothers would act out "I had served my apprenticeship and there wasn't room for two leading men," he explained of his reasoning. Main Cast of Gunsmoke in 1967. His death was attributed to . He was known as Doc, or Dr. Adams, but not even the writers had an actual first name for him. However, when the producers decided to make the episodes half an hour longer, ratings start to go down. The full cast with Doc, Kitty, Chester, Festus, Newley and Quint and others will always be alive in our hearts and they will continue to live on forever in our hearts! | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake spoke about their close trio of a friendship. It was in March of 1971 that Stone had heart bypass surgery and he passed away in 1980 . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She was born to parents Jesse and Louise Neill. But on TV's 'Gunsmoke', it was Milburn Stone that assumed the role of Doc in 1955, and he was 'Doc' until the historic western ended in 1975. Milburn Stone/Age at death. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. He stayed with Gunsmoke through its entire television run, with the exception of 7 episodes in 1971, when Stone required heart surgery and Pat Hingle replaced him as Dr. Chapman. Provident Federal Credit Union "Proud to Serve You!" > Blog > Uncategorized > how much did ken curtis make on gunsmoke However, "The Sharecroppers" was the end of the . It was reported that a staggering 26 actors were considered for the role of Matt Dillon. However, he didn't necessarily have a high opinion of some of his colleagues on the set. Doc writes that he was so distraught over the death of a young girl under his care, who was suffering from an illness he didn't know how to treat, that he has gone East to re-enter medical school and c Kitty finds and reads a letter from Doc Adams, who has disappeared from Dodge. Stone's brother, Joe, was a writer who was the author of scripts for three episodes of Gunsmoke. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. However, not only did the writers not tie up any loose ends, but there wasnt really any loose ends to tie up! Arness was infamous for being a jokester while filming to try and reduce tension and nerves. He left the cast in 1971 after suffering a heart attack. No, Miss Kitty was a prostitute, but that was years ago in New Orleans. But if it hadn't been for Milburn Stone [who played Doc Adams on the show], this interview might not even be taking place. However, she ultimately turned it down as she wanted to focus on family life. The part came about due to the fact that series regular Dennis Weaver expressed his desire to leave the show. However, the line was originally said on Gunsmoke. He told the Los Angeles Times in 2001 how much he enjoyed being able to help keep things fun and enjoyable on set. Home Why did Milburn Stone leave Gunsmoke? However, Milburn Stone technically went by no name during his first 16 seasons on Gunsmoke. Three years later Milburn got signed by Universal Pictures whereafter he became a regular face on television. His dedication to his character paid off in 1968 when Milburn won an Emmy while he also made appearances in shows like Dragnet and Racket Squad during his time on Gunsmoke.. Although it is merely a rumor that western legend John Wayne was offered the role of Matt Dillon, it certainly wouldnt come us a surprise. Even though we live in a world of reboots of our favorite shows, at this point, there has not been aGunsmokerevival and there also hasnt been any talk of one publicly. How can we avoid the occurrence of weld porosity? If you were a fan of the popular western show Gunsmoke from 1955 until 1975, then it's likely you remember the beloved character Doc Adams, who was played by actor Milburn Stone (and Howard McNear on the radio).. Milburn appeared on a whopping 605 episodes of the former series in the role, but even so, there were still a few that he missed over the two decades it aired. In addition toGunsmoke,the show that truly made him a legend (he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama in 1968),Milburn had a lot of acting gigs on his resume between the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Four years after Milburns return to the most long-running show in historyup until Law & Order: SVU claimed the title decades laterGunsmoke came to an end. Matt Dillon wasnt the only character who many people wanted to be. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. It also made sense that the man who voiced the character in the original radio show, William Conrad, was one of the first choices. There was no denying that Glenn Strange, who was an actual cowboy-turned-actor, had a huge impact on his co-stars. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Before the TV version of Gunsmoke first aired, the story was presented on the radio by a different cast. Doc writes that he was so distraught over the death of a young girl under his care, who was suffering from an illness he didn't know how to treat, that he has gone East to re-enter medical school and c Read allKitty finds and reads a letter from Doc Adams, who has disappeared from Dodge. Kitty finds and reads a letter from Doc Adams, who has disappeared from Dodge. Why did he really leave the beloved Western? Stone's brother, Joe Stone, says their uncle Fred Stone, was a versatile actor who appeared on Broadway and in circuses). Some of those roles includeSky Patrol, Stunt Pilot, The Three Mesquiteers, A Doctors Diary, Atlantic Flight, Climax!, Drango, TV Readers Digest, The Man Behind the Badge, Fireside Theatre, Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, and many more. Having turned down a congressional appointment to the US Naval Academy, a young Milburn instead decided to get into acting and joined a touring theatrical company. He stayed with Gunsmoke through its entire television run, with the exception of 7 episodes in 1971, when Stone required heart surgery and Pat Hingle replaced him as Dr. Chapman. So why would Milburn Stone leave a show with that level of longevity and success? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". According to an interview with Cowboys & Indians, Reynolds talked about what it was like playing Quint on Gunsmoke. Arness passed away in 2011. Why did Chester limp on Gunsmoke? AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Only Kelsey Grammer has played a character on American primetime TV for longer, for his role as Frasier Crane. One of his film roles was a radio columnist in the Gloria Jean-Kirby Grant musical I'll Remember April. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. George Glenn Strange (August 16, 1899 September 20, 1973) was an American actor who mostly appeared in Western films. Besides Arness, Weaver, and Curtis, Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty and Milburn Stone as Galen "Doc" Adams were recognized as the longest regular cast members. And, as Chester, the only man Matt Dillon could trust, he helped Gunsmoke stand out. He was too big, producer Charles Marquis Warren said. What happened to Quint Asper on Gunsmoke? He was the same horse used by Ben Cartwright in Bonanza. However, this was eventually changed in the early 70s, just a few years before the show came to an end. One of the most notable wins was when Dennis Weaver was awarded the award for Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series in 1958. Stone was also close to his uncleFred Stone. Nolan played an old woman who leaves Dodge City with Dack Rambos character to search for gold in California. peter fonda on gunsmoke peter fonda on gunsmoke. One of the actors who was brought in to add some youth to the cast of Gunsmoke during the 60s, the man who played Newly OBrien evolved into a perfect western character. For the whole 20 years the series was on the air from 1955 until 1975, he appeared in an impressive 605 of 635 episodes, according to IMBD . It would be his last screen role. Festus Haggen: Why? They say that artists have the ability to adapt to different mediums fairly easily. I still watch the series. While it was no serious fight or yelling, Arness remembers it fondly as a bit of fun. Eventually, the original Law & Order and The Simpsons would surpass it, but Gunsmoke is still ranked as one of the top 5 longest-running television series across the globe. Eat, drink and enjoy life with the foodies of the world. Why did Milburn leave Gunsmoke? Appears as: Galen "Doc" Adams. Aug 11, 2021 -- Actor Milburn Stone temporarily left the television show Gunsmoke due to heart surgery in 1971. 3 Who guest starred the most on Gunsmoke? The men have their coats on. All episodes of Gunsmoke will feature Burt Reynolds' character, Quint Asper. The cast of Gunsmoke Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis, Burt Reynolds, and James Arness @Getty. There are many theories as to why Dennis Weaver decided to give his character Chester Goode a limp. . Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake in a saloon set on an episode of Gunsmoke @Getty, Its so bad you couldnt bear to put your hand in your pocket for the two dollars youll owe me, could you?, No, youd rather stand out here in pain all day, wouldnt you. Stone underwent heart surgery and missed a total of 7 episodes of Gunsmoke. Required fields are marked *. However, in 1971, he was forced to temporarily leave the show for just a handful of episodes because he had to undergo heart surgery after suffering a heart attack. Milburn was friends with former president and actor Ronald Reagan. 1 Answer. He might have only appeared in one episode, but it was a huge moment in the shows history. Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has a record of 21 consecutive years. While it was also rumored that Dennis chose the limp to accompany his country accent , to make him stand out. Milburn Stone (born July 5, 1904-died June 12, 1980; aged 75) was an American actor and is best known from his role as Doc Adams, appearing in every season of the long-running CBS-TV series Gunsmoke. Why did Amanda Blake leave Gunsmoke? Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Thats why Noteabley is a food site. Buck lived a long life. Other choices included John Pickardand Denver Pyle. I will be back and I'll think of you very often. Before then, brewers cut ice from frozen rivers in the winter and stored it underground during the summer to keep the brew cool. Stone was born in Burrton, Kansas, to Herbert Stone and the former Laura Belfield. Milburn Stone may have retired acting shortly after Gunsmoke got canceled, but it marked the end of a successful career that spanned almost four decades. She was of American nationality and her ethnic background was mixed (English and Scottish). What I like best is Doc and Festus altercations , faunchin and a belleerin at each other . However, Milburn Stone technically went by no name during his first 16 seasons on Gunsmoke. As a result, Gilligans Island met an early and abrupt end. Milburn Stone played Galen Doc Adams on the Gunsmoketelevision series through its entire run, with the exception of 7 episodes in 1971. After, he left his home to find work with touring repertory troupes. What was Milburn Stones net worth at the time of his death? During seasons fourteen and fifteen of the shows 20-season run, three of the younger members of the famous family made appearances in a handful of episodes. The Hollywood Walk of Fame's website designates Stone as a Star of Motion Pictures and gives the address of his star as 6823 Hollywood Boulevard. Dennis Weaver, who played Marshal Dillons trusty sidekick, Chester, from the very beginning, left the show after season nine to free up time for other projects. 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 part of his school drama club and performed as part of a barbershop quartet, as well as being on the basketball team. The late Rance Howard rose to fame when he appeared in shows like Bonanza and Gunsmoke while he went on to have an awarding winning career in acting and directing. I pray all of you will remember with affection, your old friend, Doc. Stone made his fortune by acting in 168 movies, including Sky Patrol, Smoke Signal, The Judge, The Long Gray Line, No Man of Her Own,Black Tuesday, and Arrowhead. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy3qGp7nink. His portrayal of Doc Adams remains one of the most iconic characters in television history. It is rumored that Conrads weight was a big factor. In the 1930s, Stone came to Los Angeles, California, to launch his own screen career. In the second half of his time on Gunsmoke, the actor who played Matt Dillon contracted a severe case of arthritis.
