Name a well-known actor who once appeared on "Gunsmoke" without using Google.

[red dog 1]

The TV show "Gunsmoke'" began in 1955 and ran for 20 seasons.
The show won 15 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Many well-known actors made their first television appearance on Gunsmoke.
Can you name one without using Google?
(Guesses are always welcome)

[zeusdogmom]

1. Bert Reynolds

[red dog 1]

8. Yes!

Burt Reynolds appeared as Quint Asper, a half-Comanche blacksmith who eventually becomes a Dodge City deputy marshal.

[Skittles]

2. OK I am guessing

Micheal Landon?

[stillcool]

3. too many of those shows

Chuck Connors?

[red dog 1]

6. Ding!

[stillcool]

10. Wow! that's cool.

[calguy]

4. Dennis Weaver?

[red dog 1]

5. Dennis Weaver played Chester Goode, Sheriff Matt Dillon's deputy.

Last edited Fri Jun 13, 2025, 11:07 PM - Edit history (1)

[rsdsharp]

9. No, Weaver played Chester Goode. Parley Baer played Chester Proudfoot on the radio version.

William Conrad (Cannon) played the radio Matt, and Howard McNear (Floyd the barber) played Doc. McNear also appeared on the TV version.

[red dog 1]

15. You're right!

Thanks for catching that mistake.

On the TV show, Dennis Weaver played Chester Goode.

[rsdsharp]

7. Morgan Woodward -- 19 times. Great character actor best known for being the guard in the mirror shades

in Cool Hand Luke.

Also, John Anderson — 13 times.

[dlilafae]

11. James Arnes? The apple 🍎 of Miss Kitty's 👁️

as Marshall Dillon.

[subterranean]

12. William Conrad?

Just a guess, but he seems like someone who might have appeared on Gunsmoke.

My other guess would be Peter Falk.

[red dog 1]

17. No, William Conrad never appeared on the TV show; but he was the voice of Matt Dillon on the radio show.

Peter Falk did appear on the TV show

[Wiz Imp]

13. I remember an episode from the 70's with several famous child actors who played orphan children

If I remember correctly they included Jodie Foster, Erin Moran & Willie Aames

[red dog 1]

18. You're right!

I tried to post a YouTube video of that show -- it was called "P.S. Murry Christmas"

[hlthe2b]

14. Soap star, Eric Braeden, M*A*S*H Loretta Switt

Last edited Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:50 PM - Edit history (1)

And also Col Potter, Harry Morgan...

Tons of others. Nearly everyone guested on Gunsmoke.

[red dog 1]

16. Ding!

[Harker]

19. Strother Martin seems a safe guess.

[red dog 1]

23. Eleven times

[Harker]

28. Wow.

I have generic memories of the show from childhood, but nothing concrete.

[GP6971]

20. Wayne Rogers

[red dog 1]

24. He appeared twice

[Moosepoop]

21. Bette Davis

She played the matriarch of an outlaw gang. She and her sons kidnapped Marshall Dillon and Miss Kitty, seeking revenge for the death of her husband for which she blamed Dillon.

[red dog 1]

25. Ding!

[Moosepoop]

44. Cool!!

Thanks for this, red dog 1!

[ProfessorGAC]

60. The Shock Of The Episode Was When...

...she slapped Miss Kitty. (Amanda Blake(
Audiences of that era weren't expecting that!
Blake said that in order to get the intensity, they were actually hitting one another!
I chimed in to your post, because Bette was the first one I thought of, too.

[malthaussen]

22. All of them.

Big screen, little screen, it didn't matter. In 21 years, virtually every actor in Hollywood appeared in "Gunsmoke" at one time or another, some for multiple shows.

-- Mal

[red dog 1]

26. That's right! Gunsmoke was a very popular show, and many well-known actors appeared on it,

many when they were very young.

[underpants]

27. Gary Busey was the last to "die" on Gunsmoke. He died twice in that show.

Gary Busey guest starred in the "Gunsmoke" episode "The Busters" (Season 20, Episode 22), playing the character Harve Daley. He was the last man killed on the show, dying from a head injury after being thrown from a horse.
Here's a more detailed look:
Character: Gary Busey's character, Harve Daley, was a bronco buster.
Death: He was thrown from a wild horse and sustained a fatal head injury, according to IMDb.
Episode: The episode, "The Busters," aired on March 10, 1975.
Significance: Harve Daley's death was the final male death on the long-running series.

[red dog 1]

38. Ding!

[Harker]

29. I'm guessing Frank Overton for multiple appearances.

I'll keep guessing til I whiff three times.

[red dog 1]

39. No, but keep guessing.

[Harker]

40. He was ubiquitous.

Steee-rike one.

[Tarzanrock]

30. The Long Branch saloon.

[Tarzanrock]

31. Jack Elam because ...

what Western television series has Jack Elam not appeared in? Also, Dennis Hopper for the same reason.

[red dog 1]

32. Dennis Hopper was in one episode & Jack Elam appeared in fifteen episodes

[kacekwl]

33. That is why I watch. I

try to name the various dust stars. Great fun.

[kacekwl]

34. Guest.

[Fish1960]

35. Once

Darren mcgavin

[LetMyPeopleVote]

36. Welcome to DU

[red dog 1]

37. Yes, Darren McGavin did appear on Gunsmoke (Twice)

Welcome to DU!

[Harker]

41. Charles Aidman.

Looking for a comeback pick.

[red dog 1]

48. Ding!

He appeared in five episodes.

[mentalsolstice]

42. Jodie Foster. nt

[red dog 1]

46. She appeared in three episodes

[Aristus]

43. No character on "Gunsmoke" used Google.

It was set during the Old West.

[Harker]

49. Festus was a time traveller.

[GusBob]

45. Harrison Ford, just saw that episode

[red dog 1]

47. Ding!

He was in 2 episodes:
- as Hobey in "The Sodbusters." and
- as Print in "Whelan's Men"

[GusBob]

54. Funny story actually

I normally don’t go to bars but on a recent Sunday afternoon I went to sign up for a charity fundraiser. The show was on and the place was quiet with a few other couples, startled, I said out loud; IS THAT HARRISON FORD ON GUNSMOKE? Just then the scene switched him out and folks were giving me the side eye like I was a crazy guy.
Then the scene switched back and there he was. It was a gambling scene.
Everyone at the bar started talking about it and the owner, whom I guess is a Gunsmoke fan, bought me a free beer.
I think as I left they were in fact googling all the famous actors who were on the show

[Harker]

50. Lois Nettleton.

[no_hypocrisy]

51. Don't know about "Gunsmoke", but my friend recently told me

that Bette Davis and Dame Judith Anderson appeared on "Wagon Train".

[gladium et scutum]

52. Glenn Strange

[eShirl]

53. wild guess: Peter Graves

[pdxflyboy]

55. Just a guess...

Dennis Hopper!

[Rincewind]

56. Leonard Nimoy nt.

[boonecreek]

57. Kathy Nolan

Played Kate McCoy on "The Real McCoys."

[Emile]

58. I remember seeing Angie Dickinson in an old rerun.

[Harker]

59. William Windom.