Ken Curtis
Ken Curtis
Ken Curtiswas an American 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 roles, he first appeared in his iconic role along in season 8 episode 13, "Us Haggens". His next appearance was with his mule Ruth in "Prairie Wolfer", season 9 episode 16, also featuring Noah Beery, Jr. as the episode's villain...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTV Actor
Date of Birth2 July 1916
CityLamar, CO
CountryUnited States of America
I really miss Gunsmoke. It was like losing my whole family.
I'm really proud of Gunsmoke. We put on a good show every week - one that families could all watch together without offending anyone.
I wouldn't care if they tattoo Festus all over. He's been good to me.
We did some jumping at the start of the show. We went out without telling anyone - and the studio liked to kill us. They were threatened with cancellation of their production insurance.
I've thought about doing other dramatic roles besides westerns, but I grew up in the West and I know the West.
The scenes in the show were filmed with a crew of really excellent stunt jumpers, but we had the feel of the parachutes, so we could be more realistic in the roles.
In this business you break a leg and 150 other people are out of work while production is shut down. It's not like you were an accountant and could still work with your leg in a cast.
I joined Tommy Dorsey at the Paramount Theater in New York as a singer. I replaced Frank Sinatra.
I'm really proud ofGunsmoke. We put on a good show every week-one that families could all watch together without offending anyone.
Of course, western is my native music,
I'd stop in the middle of a gun fight and sing a song.