For more than a decade, actor Ken Curtis played Festus Haggen, the loyal sidekick to Marshal Matt Dillion (star James Arness) on the long-running television series “Gunsmoke.”
Curtis fully inhabited the role of the perennially disheveled and unshaven Festus, a man with a unique hillbilly accent who could be curmudgeonly and comical at the same time.
Festus remains a memorable character in TV history today, nearly 50 years after the show ended, to the point that even people who aren’t fans of Westerns – like me – know Festus. The actor behind the character is a different story.
Like many character actors, Ken Curtis is one of those familiar faces whose names may not be well known, but whose presence is an integral part of the fabric of film and television.
That’s why he is my choice for the 10th annual “What a Character Blogathon” hosted by Kellee of Outspoken & Freckled and @Irishjayhawk66, Paula of Paula’s Cinema Club and @Paula_Guthat, and Aurora of Once Upon a Screen and and @CitizenScreen.
Who was the man behind Festus?
Two years ago, I couldn’t have told you the name of the actor playing Festus. That changed after spending months of Sunday afternoons recently watching “Gunsmoke,” Westerns and John Wayne films in general with my dad.
The thin face of Curtis, nearly masked under a heavy layer of whiskers as Festus, was becoming familiar enough to notice in films like “The Searchers,” “The Wings of Eagles” and “Conagher,” leading to the question: “Hey dad, is that Festus?” (That’s a real quote – I said “Festus.”)
“It kinda looks like him, but doesn’t sound like him,” I naively said, believing Ken Curtis really talked with that heavy Southern accent. (He was born in Colorado.)
Sure enough, it was Curtis. Now I’m seeing his familiar face more often, even in unexpected places like the 1959 B-horror movie “The Killer Shrews.”
Watching Forever 
Your enthusiasm for Ken Curtis has truly touched this fan’s heart. I have been trying to pinpoint the beginnings of my fandom and it must have been either the TV series Ripcord or multiple viewings of Rio Grande with my family. Ah, but is it Ken’s glorious singing voice or his memorable turn as Festus that cemented him in my heart. It doesn’t matter, does it? He’s stuck good and proper now.
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Thanks, Paddy. This means a lot coming from you because you know your Westerns so well. I am late to the Ken Curtis appreciation society but I’m glad I finally got to know him. Toni
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WOW! Of course, it was hard to accept Festus so soon after Chester bit the dust, but we all adapted. Thank for you shining a light on this actor’s long and varied career.
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Thank you. I hope other people discover him as I did recently.
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Great choice! His 2 appearances as Skinner Monk on TV’s HAVE GUN – WILL TRAVEL (’59-’60) seemed to be a proving ground for his Festus character. He had all the elements nailed down. Years ago, when I discovered he had such a smooth singing voice, it was almost shocking.
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Thanks, Kurt. I did not see those two episodes but now I must especially to see how Festus came to be. I didn’t know about his singing voice until I did research for the story – and I was definitely shocked! Thanks for reading.
Toni
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I would guess he worked on Festus in private but HGWT may be first hint. Monk was a scoundrel and dimwitted so that contrasts with Festus.
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Wow, who knew!? I’ll have to revisit “Gunsmoke.” I mostly ignored it back in the day.
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Ken Curtis was more versatile than he appears and after watching him as Festus for months, I came to appreciate his acting in the role. Thanks for reading!
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One of the best things about this blogathon is learning more about the folks you recognize, but may not know their names. I was glad to learn more about Ken Curtis – thanks!
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Thanks for reading, Ruth. I also love the What a Character blogathon to learn more about all of these superb “familiar faces” – like the one you did on Charles Lane. Again, I knew his face but not the name. Through your post, I got to know him. Toni
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Thanks for mentioning Ken was the host and singer on the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree back in the day. I’m on the current Board of Directors of the Wheeling Jamboree which is now a non-profit 501 c (3) org. Unfortunately, we don’t have any pictures or clips in our archives from 1948. Nothing at all showing Ken Curtis on our stage.
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Hi Bill,
Thanks for your note and for reading the story. I’m happy to hear from you and your connection with the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree. I learned quite a bit about Mr. Curtis while researching the story – he has such an interesting life! Sorry you haven’t been able to find anything on him in your archives, but hopefully something will turn up in the future. Thanks again. Toni
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