Bio of ken curtis of gunsmoke episodes
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Ken Curtis (July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991)
He was a singer and actor best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the long-running CBS western television series Gunsmoke. Although he appeared on Gunsmoke in other earlier roles, he was first cast in his iconic role in season 8 episode 13, "Us Haggens". His next appearance was with his mule, Ruth, in "Prairie Wolfer" in season 9 episode 16, which also features Noah Beery Jr., as a villain. Columbia Pictures signed Curtis to a contract in 1945. During World War II, Curtis served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945. He starred in a series of musical Westerns with The Hoosier Hot Shots, playing singing-cowboy romantic leads. Curtis met his first wife, Lorraine Page, at Universal Studios, and they were married in 1943. For much of 1948, Curtis was a featured singer and host of the long-running country music radio program WWVA Jamboree. Ken Curtis joined the Sons of the Pioneers (the foremost Western vocal group in history) as a lead singer from 1949 to 1952. His big hits with the group included "Room Full of Roses" and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky".
Through his second marriage, Curtis was a son-in-law of director John Ford. Curtis teamed with Ford and John Wayne in Rio Grande, The Quiet Man
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| Ken Curtis | |
|---|---|
Ken Curtis played the part of Festus Hagen on "Gunsmoke" in Seasons 9-20 of the series. | |
| General Actor Information | |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birthname: | Curtis Wain Gates |
| Born: | (1916-07-02)July 2, 1916 |
| Birthplace | Lamar, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 1991(1991-04-28) (aged 74) |
| Death Location | Fresno, California, U.S. |
| Occupation/ Career: | Actor |
| Years active: | 1941-1991 |
| Appearances/Series information | |
| Appeared on: | Gunsmoke (TV series) |
| Episode(s) appeared in: | 306 in series, Seasons 9-20 |
| Appears as: | Festus Haggen |
Ken Curtis (born July 2, 1916 – died April 28, 1991; aged 74) was the actor who played Festus Haggen in seasons 8-20 of Gunsmoke. 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" (episode #13). His next appearance was in the Season 9 episode (#2) on October 5, 1963 as Kyle Kelly, in "Lover Boy". Curtis joined the cast of Gunsmoke permanently as Festus in the episode "Prairie Wolfer" in Season 9 (episode #16, January 18, 1964), though this fact is often confused with a 1969 Season 13 episode of the same name ("Prairie Wolfer") made five years later (episode #10).
Caree
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BornJuly 2, 1916
DiedApril 28, 1991(74)