Gunsmoke: Living or Dead?
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Which cast and crew of American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. Gunsmoke are living and who are dead?
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Image info
Artist | CBS Television |
---|---|
Credit | eBay item photo front photo back |
License | pd |
Desc | Photo of James Arness as Matt Dillon from Gunsmoke. |
Usage | Public domain |
American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston.
Gunsmoke
Released | 10 September 1955 |
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Ended | 31 March 1975 |
Genre | television western |
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Composer | Jerry Goldsmith |
Country of origin | United States of America |
Number of episodes | 635 |
Number of seasons | 20 |
About Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke, the iconic Western television series that aired from 1955 to 1975, was a groundbreaking show that set the standard for the genre. Created by John Meston and developed by Norman Macdonnell, Gunsmoke was based on a radio program of the same name that had been on the air since 1952. The show followed the adventures of Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he kept the peace in the rough-and-tumble town of Dodge City, Kansas, in the late 1800s.
Gunsmoke was notable for its gritty realism and its willingness to tackle tough social issues. The show's writers explored topics such as racism, poverty, and violence, and the characters were complex and nuanced. Arness's portrayal of Dillon was a key factor in the show's success; he brought a quiet strength and a sense of moral authority to the role that made him a beloved figure to generations of viewers.
Gunsmoke was also notable for its longevity; it ran for 20 seasons and 635 episodes, making it one of the longest-running shows in television history. The show's popularity was due in part to its strong ensemble cast, which included Amanda Blake as saloon owner Miss Kitty, Milburn Stone as Doc Adams, and Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen.
Despite its success, Gunsmoke was not without controversy. Some critics accused the show of glorifying violence and perpetuating negative stereotypes of Native Americans and other marginalized groups. However, the show's creators and cast defended their work, arguing that they were trying to tell honest stories about a difficult time in American history.
In the end, Gunsmoke remains a beloved classic of American television, a show that helped define the Western genre and set the standard for quality storytelling on the small screen. Its legacy can be seen in countless other shows and movies that have followed in its footsteps, and its influence continues to be felt today.
References:
- "Gunsmoke." IMDb, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/title/tt0047736/.
- "Gunsmoke." TV Guide, TV Guide, www.tvguide.com/tvshows/gunsmoke/201639/.
- "Gunsmoke." Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Gunsmoke-television-show.
Other cast and crew
Supporting cast and crew listed below. See if you can find out who is who from the stats below.

Angie Dickinson
American actress

Ellen Burstyn
American actress

Nick Nolte
American actor

Kurt Russell
American actor

Jon Voight
American actor

Cicely Tyson
American actress

Sam Elliott
American actor

Katharine Ross
actor and author

Adam West
American actor

Melissa Gilbert
actress and director

Barbara Eden
American actress and singer

George Kennedy
American actor

John Saxon
American actor

Diane Ladd
American actress

Richard Dreyfuss
American actor

Lesley Ann Warren
American singer-actress

Vera Miles
American actress

Ruta Lee
Canadian actress and dancer

Mariette Hartley
American actress

Lee Majors
American actor

Jan-Michael Vincent
American actor

Loretta Swit
American actress

Chuck Connors
Athlete and actor

John Astin
American actor

Beau Bridges
American actor and director

Joyce Bulifant
American actress

Bruce Dern
American actor

June Lockhart
American actress from the United States

Ned Beatty
American actor

Sherry Jackson
American actress

Eve Plumb
American actress, painter

Tom Skerritt
American actor

Sid Haig
American actor

Pamelyn Ferdin
actress, voice actress

Fionnula Flanagan
Irish actress

Michael Learned
American actress

Herb Vigran
American actor

Ricardo Montalbán
actor

William Hopper
American actor

Clint Howard
American actor

Kay Lenz
American actress

Russ Tamblyn
American actor

Bonnie Bartlett
American actress

Dabbs Greer
American actor

Sharon Farrell
American actress

Susan Olsen
American actress

Gerald McRaney
American actor

Richard Chamberlain
American actor and singer, recording artist

Salome Jens
American actress

Robert Pine
American actor

Bruce Boxleitner
American actor, science fiction and suspense writer

Joseph Campanella
American actor

Kathleen Nolan
American actress; President of the SAG

Lisa Eilbacher
American actress

Julie Bennett
American actress

Nina Foch
actress

Nancy Olson
American actress

Yaphet Kotto
American actor

L. Q. Jones
American actor

Fredd Wayne
American actor

Darren McGavin
actor

Maree Cheatham
American actress

Nehemiah Persoff
American actor and painter

May Heatherly
American actress

Ben Johnson
American film actor

Rance Howard
American actor

Katherine Cannon
American actress

Charlotte Stewart
actress

Mike Connors
American actor

Martin E. Brooks
American actor

Barra Grant
American actress

Pamela Payton-Wright
American actress

Susan Batson
American actress

Edgar Buchanan
actor

Vitina Marcus
American actress

Jolene Brand
American actress

Martin Kove
American actor

Harold Gould
American actor

Nellie Bellflower
American actress

Jack Albertson
American character actor

Pat Quinn
American actress

Roy Thinnes
actor

Jimmy McNichol
actor, singer

Jere Fields
American actress

Lyle Waggoner
American actor

Lois Nettleton
actress

Richard Mulligan
American actor

Butch Patrick
American actor

John Beck
American actor

Michael Parks
American actor

James Drury
former actor; oil and natural gas business

Daniel J. Travanti
actor

Parker Stevenson
American actor

Alex Cord
American actor

Bo Hopkins
American actor

James Gammon
American actor
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