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Ken Curtis

  • Birthplace: Lamar, Colorado
  • Birthday: July 12, 1916

Former big-band vocalist (he joined the Tommy Dorsey Band after Frank Sinatra left) and singing cowboy in low-budget westerns of the 1940s, Curtis is best known as the scuffy bewhiskered deputy sheriff Festus Haggen in the hit western TV series "Gunsmoke" (1964-75). He also appeared in several films by his then father-in-law John Ford including "Mister Roberts" (1955), "The Searchers" and "Wings of Eagles" (both 1956), "The Last Hurrah" (1958) and "The Horse Soldiers" (1959).

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Credits

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Career Milestones

  • 1964

    Replaced Dennis Weaver as Sheriff Matt Dillon's deputy sidekick on TV series "Gunsmoke" playing new character Festus

  • 1961 to 1963

    Co-starred as sky driver on TV series, "Ripcord"

  • 1959

    Produced first feature, "The Killer Shrews"

  • 1950

    Joined western singing group Sons of the Pioneers (which included Roy Rogers) which was hired by John Ford to sing on the score of "Wagon Master"

  • 1945

    After record hit, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," signed by Columbia Pictures to star as singing cowboy in low-budget Columbia westerns (date approximate)

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Upcoming Appearances

In Gunsmoke

Tomorrow at 02:00 pm TVLAND

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Thu Jan 8
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